Stl controller complains about 4 digit and similar call signs.

Attributes
ACN	576317
Time
Date	200303
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : t75.tracon
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar controller : departure controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 25.5 flight time total : 65
ASRS Report	576317
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company FAA
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

4 digit air carrier call signs, ie, very quickly becoming a major problem at stl. Pilots, as well as controllers, are increasingly having problems keeping numbers straight. With all the numbers required to be issued in ATC clrncs and phraseology, it is very hard to keep all the numbers straight in your head. We are having an increasing number of readback errors from pilots here at stl. When you issue a clearance like 'turn left heading 290 degrees, join the ozcale 3, climb and maintain 150 degrees, do not exceed 290 KTS,' it is very confusing. Lots of times, we don't have time to break the transmission up. This is especially confusing when answers for similar call signs are ever increasing problems. Call signs are made similar due to 4 digits in the call signs. In hearback, readback errors, controller and pilots should be held equally responsible -- not just controllers as it is today.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STL CTLR COMPLAINS ABOUT 4 DIGIT AND SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: 4 DIGIT ACR CALL SIGNS, IE, VERY QUICKLY BECOMING A MAJOR PROB AT STL. PLTS, AS WELL AS CTLRS, ARE INCREASINGLY HAVING PROBS KEEPING NUMBERS STRAIGHT. WITH ALL THE NUMBERS REQUIRED TO BE ISSUED IN ATC CLRNCS AND PHRASEOLOGY, IT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP ALL THE NUMBERS STRAIGHT IN YOUR HEAD. WE ARE HAVING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF READBACK ERRORS FROM PLTS HERE AT STL. WHEN YOU ISSUE A CLRNC LIKE 'TURN L HDG 290 DEGS, JOIN THE OZCALE 3, CLB AND MAINTAIN 150 DEGS, DO NOT EXCEED 290 KTS,' IT IS VERY CONFUSING. LOTS OF TIMES, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BREAK THE XMISSION UP. THIS IS ESPECIALLY CONFUSING WHEN ANSWERS FOR SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ARE EVER INCREASING PROBS. CALL SIGNS ARE MADE SIMILAR DUE TO 4 DIGITS IN THE CALL SIGNS. IN HEARBACK, READBACK ERRORS, CTLR AND PLTS SHOULD BE HELD EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE -- NOT JUST CTLRS AS IT IS TODAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.