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Controller voiced concern regarding four digit call signs claiming the similar sounding call signs are hazardous; adding pilots are expressing the same concern.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 810039 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200810 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local instruction : instructor |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller limited radar : 13 controller non radar : 2 controller radar : 9 |
| ASRS Report | 810039 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local instruction : trainee |
| Qualification | controller : developmental |
| Experience | controller non radar : 17 |
| ASRS Report | 810029 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other controllerb |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Air carrier X is using a 4 digit call sign format. The numbers are all in the XXXX series numbers and have created an extremely dangerous situation at ZZZ airport. By using these call signs air carrier X has created numerous similar sounding call signs that have resulted in pilots answering for other airplanes. This could be very hazardous as this could result in a runway incursion or collision. This problem was reported to our liaison and they reported back to us that this problem would be remedied soon. It now appears that FAA management has not reported this to the airline and we have been informed that the remedy will not take place until after the first of the year. It is apparent that FAA management does not see the danger in this situation. From XA30Z to XA50Z air carrier X had 12 similar sounding call signs. This occurs numerous times each day. I have heard pilots say that they view this as a very real problem as well but it appears that nothing is being done.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CONTROLLER VOICED CONCERN REGARDING FOUR DIGIT CALL SIGNS CLAIMING THE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ARE HAZARDOUS; ADDING PILOTS ARE EXPRESSING THE SAME CONCERN.
Narrative: ACR X IS USING A 4 DIGIT CALL SIGN FORMAT. THE NUMBERS ARE ALL IN THE XXXX SERIES NUMBERS AND HAVE CREATED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT ZZZ AIRPORT. BY USING THESE CALL SIGNS ACR X HAS CREATED NUMEROUS SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN PILOTS ANSWERING FOR OTHER AIRPLANES. THIS COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS AS THIS COULD RESULT IN A RUNWAY INCURSION OR COLLISION. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO OUR LIAISON AND THEY REPORTED BACK TO US THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE REMEDIED SOON. IT NOW APPEARS THAT FAA MANAGEMENT HAS NOT REPORTED THIS TO THE AIRLINE AND WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. IT IS APPARENT THAT FAA MANAGEMENT DOES NOT SEE THE DANGER IN THIS SITUATION. FROM XA30Z TO XA50Z ACR X HAD 12 SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS. THIS OCCURS NUMEROUS TIMES EACH DAY. I HAVE HEARD PILOTS SAY THAT THEY VIEW THIS AS A VERY REAL PROBLEM AS WELL BUT IT APPEARS THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE.
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.