Flight crew confused by controller's use of aircraft call sign digits and runway numbers.

Attributes
ACN	80637
Time
Date	198801
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	80637
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We, air carrier X blankety, were #1 for takeoff on runway 18R at mem. Air carrier X blankety 1 was also on the frequency, but I'm not sure of his position. Mem tower stated, 'air carrier X blankety-1-8-right-position-and hold,' (no pauses). Before my first officer could get to his microphone to respond, we heard, 'air carrier X blankety 1, position and hold.' first officer queried tower if the call was for air carrier X blankety, whereupon tower repeated his instruction exactly as before. Again we heard the reply from our colleagues, 'air carrier X blankety 1, position and hold.' first officer tried again to clarify the issue, this time asking, 'are you talking to air carrier X blankety 1 or air carrier X blankety?' this time tower instructed, 'air carrier X blank zero, 1-8-right-position and hold.' we replied and taxied as instructed. During a momentary lull a few moments later, I suggested, 'perhaps it would be clearer if you separated the call sign and the runway.' tower responded with a, 'roger,' but he continued as before. Sorry the printer didn't space well, hope you can make it out. It's obviously better than my hand. My question: how do I make the suggestion in writing? There is no mechanism of which I am aware of whereby I can suggest this to the FAA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW CONFUSED BY CTLR'S USE OF ACFT CALL SIGN DIGITS AND RWY NUMBERS.

Narrative: WE, ACR X BLANKETY, WERE #1 FOR TKOF ON RWY 18R AT MEM. ACR X BLANKETY 1 WAS ALSO ON THE FREQ, BUT I'M NOT SURE OF HIS POS. MEM TWR STATED, 'ACR X BLANKETY-1-8-RIGHT-POS-AND HOLD,' (NO PAUSES). BEFORE MY F/O COULD GET TO HIS MIC TO RESPOND, WE HEARD, 'ACR X BLANKETY 1, POS AND HOLD.' F/O QUERIED TWR IF THE CALL WAS FOR ACR X BLANKETY, WHEREUPON TWR REPEATED HIS INSTRUCTION EXACTLY AS BEFORE. AGAIN WE HEARD THE REPLY FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, 'ACR X BLANKETY 1, POS AND HOLD.' F/O TRIED AGAIN TO CLARIFY THE ISSUE, THIS TIME ASKING, 'ARE YOU TALKING TO ACR X BLANKETY 1 OR ACR X BLANKETY?' THIS TIME TWR INSTRUCTED, 'ACR X BLANK ZERO, 1-8-RIGHT-POS AND HOLD.' WE REPLIED AND TAXIED AS INSTRUCTED. DURING A MOMENTARY LULL A FEW MOMENTS LATER, I SUGGESTED, 'PERHAPS IT WOULD BE CLEARER IF YOU SEPARATED THE CALL SIGN AND THE RWY.' TWR RESPONDED WITH A, 'ROGER,' BUT HE CONTINUED AS BEFORE. SORRY THE PRINTER DIDN'T SPACE WELL, HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY BETTER THAN MY HAND. MY QUESTION: HOW DO I MAKE THE SUGGESTION IN WRITING? THERE IS NO MECHANISM OF WHICH I AM AWARE OF WHEREBY I CAN SUGGEST THIS TO THE FAA.

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