Narrative:

I was working both east and west arrs combined with all 3 finals. Air carrier X; a CRJ2; was inbound from the northwest to land runway 36L; and air carrier xy; a CRJ2; was inbound from the southeast to land runway 36R. When air carrier X turned downwind on the gqe arrival; I instructed them to descend and maintain 7000 ft. Both air carrier X and air carrier xy responded to the clearance. At that point I reiterated that the clearance was for air carrier X and then informed both aircraft that there were similar sounding call signs on different frequencys that I was working. A little while later; I instructed air carrier X to turn to a base leg heading of 090 degrees and descend and maintain 2000 ft; and again; both aircraft replied. After verifying that the clearance was for air carrier X I asked that air carrier xy pay more attention to the situation while a similar sounding call sign was on the frequency. This seems to be happening more frequently where pilots; especially regional jet pilots; are not paying close attention to the call sign being called during busy periods of traffic; and the call signs don't necessarily have to be similar sounding. It does lead to stepped on xmissions and repeated calls and instructions that a controller does not need during busy periods. If I inform pilots that there are similar sounding call signs on the frequencys that I am working; I expect them to pay even closer attention than they normally would.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS; CITING REGIONAL FLT CREW'S AS EXPERIENCING THE MOST DIFFICULTY.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING BOTH E AND W ARRS COMBINED WITH ALL 3 FINALS. ACR X; A CRJ2; WAS INBOUND FROM THE NW TO LAND RWY 36L; AND ACR XY; A CRJ2; WAS INBOUND FROM THE SE TO LAND RWY 36R. WHEN ACR X TURNED DOWNWIND ON THE GQE ARR; I INSTRUCTED THEM TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 7000 FT. BOTH ACR X AND ACR XY RESPONDED TO THE CLRNC. AT THAT POINT I REITERATED THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR ACR X AND THEN INFORMED BOTH ACFT THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ON DIFFERENT FREQS THAT I WAS WORKING. A LITTLE WHILE LATER; I INSTRUCTED ACR X TO TURN TO A BASE LEG HDG OF 090 DEGS AND DSND AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT; AND AGAIN; BOTH ACFT REPLIED. AFTER VERIFYING THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR ACR X I ASKED THAT ACR XY PAY MORE ATTN TO THE SITUATION WHILE A SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN WAS ON THE FREQ. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY WHERE PLTS; ESPECIALLY REGIONAL JET PLTS; ARE NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTN TO THE CALL SIGN BEING CALLED DURING BUSY PERIODS OF TFC; AND THE CALL SIGNS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SIMILAR SOUNDING. IT DOES LEAD TO STEPPED ON XMISSIONS AND REPEATED CALLS AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT A CTLR DOES NOT NEED DURING BUSY PERIODS. IF I INFORM PLTS THAT THERE ARE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ON THE FREQS THAT I AM WORKING; I EXPECT THEM TO PAY EVEN CLOSER ATTN THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.