A319 flight crew has a TCAS alert during climb.

Attributes
ACN	714423
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zau.artcc
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	714423
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 3700
ASRS Report	714426
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

During climb out of ord to dca we checked in climbing to FL330. Center came back and cleared us to FL390. We acknowledged and continued our climb to FL390. As we were passing FL340 we asked center about traffic that passed by us on our left. Center said we were cleared to FL330. We started our descent and then center said to climb to FL390. We resumed our climb to FL390. We never heard any other aircraft on the frequency. After talking with ATC the controller thought we were another aircraft with a similar call sign adding to the confusion. Supplemental information from acn 714426: passing 330 had a TCAS alert and asked ATC about it. The controller was confused as to which aircraft we were and that there was a loss of separation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW HAS A TCAS ALERT DURING CLB.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT OF ORD TO DCA WE CHKED IN CLBING TO FL330. CTR CAME BACK AND CLRED US TO FL390. WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTINUED OUR CLB TO FL390. AS WE WERE PASSING FL340 WE ASKED CTR ABOUT TFC THAT PASSED BY US ON OUR L. CTR SAID WE WERE CLRED TO FL330. WE STARTED OUR DSCNT AND THEN CTR SAID TO CLB TO FL390. WE RESUMED OUR CLB TO FL390. WE NEVER HEARD ANY OTHER ACFT ON THE FREQ. AFTER TALKING WITH ATC THE CTLR THOUGHT WE WERE ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN ADDING TO THE CONFUSION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 714426: PASSING 330 HAD A TCAS ALERT AND ASKED ATC ABOUT IT. THE CTLR WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHICH ACFT WE WERE AND THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF SEPARATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.