T75 approach controller is frustrated, because of similar sounding call signs.

Attributes
ACN	579372
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 Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
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	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 25.5
ASRS Report	579372
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Air carrier X and air carrier Y similar call signs. Confusing for pilots and controllers. On same frequency at same time, taking clrncs for each other. Greatly increases controller workload! Controllers must direct more attention to similar call sign aircraft, reducing attention to other aircraft and sits. This decreases safety. Make pilots and controllers equal partners in readback errors. Today, it is all on the controller. If pilots were held equally responsible, they would listen better. Get rid of 4 digit call signs wherever possible. With all the numbers flying around in radio xmissions, any reduction in numbers increases safety and decreases workload.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: T75 APCH CTLR IS FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE OF SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: ACR X AND ACR Y SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. CONFUSING FOR PLTS AND CTLRS. ON SAME FREQ AT SAME TIME, TAKING CLRNCS FOR EACH OTHER. GREATLY INCREASES CTLR WORKLOAD! CTLRS MUST DIRECT MORE ATTN TO SIMILAR CALL SIGN ACFT, REDUCING ATTN TO OTHER ACFT AND SITS. THIS DECREASES SAFETY. MAKE PLTS AND CTLRS EQUAL PARTNERS IN READBACK ERRORS. TODAY, IT IS ALL ON THE CTLR. IF PLTS WERE HELD EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE, THEY WOULD LISTEN BETTER. GET RID OF 4 DIGIT CALL SIGNS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. WITH ALL THE NUMBERS FLYING AROUND IN RADIO XMISSIONS, ANY REDUCTION IN NUMBERS INCREASES SAFETY AND DECREASES WORKLOAD.

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.