T75 approach controller expressed frustration over similar sounding call signs.

Attributes
ACN	579371
Time
Date	200304
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : t75.tracon
State Reference	MO
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : t75.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : t75.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 25.5
ASRS Report	579371
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Aircraft X and aircraft Y similar call signs. Aircraft were right behind each other in T75 airspace. Aircraft Y took aircraft X clearance. Make controllers and pilots equally responsible for readback errors. This would make pilots listen more carefully. Do something about these damn 4 digit call signs. Too many numbers flying around the air waves.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: T75 APCH CTLR EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION OVER SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: ACFT X AND ACFT Y SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. ACFT WERE RIGHT BEHIND EACH OTHER IN T75 AIRSPACE. ACFT Y TOOK ACFT X CLRNC. MAKE CTLRS AND PLTS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR READBACK ERRORS. THIS WOULD MAKE PLTS LISTEN MORE CAREFULLY. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE DAMN 4 DIGIT CALL SIGNS. TOO MANY NUMBERS FLYING AROUND THE AIR WAVES.

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.