Narrative:

On the cetus arrival into dtw, ATC stated to expect a short vector for spacing. We were approaching cetus when we were instructed to fly our present heading. Approximately 30 seconds prior to cetus, we received a handoff to the next approach controller. Due to heavy radio congestion, initial contact with the new controller was difficult. During the time while trying to establish radio contact, we maintained present heading as previously instructed, which caused us to fly past cetus north of the arrival. Shortly thereafter, contact was made with the new controller who said 'the last controller needs to talk to you' after returning to the previous frequency, the controller stated that he never handed us off. It is our belief that we had indeed been handed off. We continued the arrival into dtw with no further discussion. I think this situation occurred due to frequency congestion and the controller's rapid issuance of instructions. The human performance factors contributing to the situation were: 1) call sign similarities, 2) volume of air traffic on the frequency, and 3) high workload of the controller, and his rapid issuance of instructions. This situation might be prevented in the future if our company varied call sign prefixes. Add an extra controller to the arrival so each one works less aircraft especially during high volume times. More clear and concise instructions from controllers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 FLT CREW INBOUND TO DFW ACCEPTS FREQ CHANGE FOR SIMILAR SOUNDING ACFT.

Narrative: ON THE CETUS ARR INTO DTW, ATC STATED TO EXPECT A SHORT VECTOR FOR SPACING. WE WERE APCHING CETUS WHEN WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO FLY OUR PRESENT HEADING. APPROX 30 SECONDS PRIOR TO CETUS, WE RECEIVED A HDOF TO THE NEXT APCH CTLR. DUE TO HVY RADIO CONGESTION, INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE NEW CTLR WAS DIFFICULT. DURING THE TIME WHILE TRYING TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT, WE MAINTAINED PRESENT HEADING AS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED, WHICH CAUSED US TO FLY PAST CETUS N OF THE ARR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE NEW CTLR WHO SAID 'THE LAST CTLR NEEDS TO TALK TO YOU' AFTER RETURNING TO THE PREVIOUS FREQ, THE CTLR STATED THAT HE NEVER HANDED US OFF. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT WE HAD INDEED BEEN HANDED OFF. WE CONTINUED THE ARR INTO DTW WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. I THINK THIS SIT OCCURRED DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION AND THE CTLR'S RAPID ISSUANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS. THE HUMAN PERFORMANCE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIT WERE: 1) CALL SIGN SIMILARITIES, 2) VOLUME OF AIR TFC ON THE FREQ, AND 3) HIGH WORKLOAD OF THE CTLR, AND HIS RAPID ISSUANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS. THIS SIT MIGHT BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE IF OUR COMPANY VARIED CALL SIGN PREFIXES. ADD AN EXTRA CTLR TO THE ARR SO EACH ONE WORKS LESS ACFT ESPECIALLY DURING HIGH VOLUME TIMES. MORE CLR AND CONCISE INSTRUCTIONS FROM CTLRS.

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.