Narrative:

I was talking to company on the #2 radio, giving our standard in range call. When I switched back to #1 radio I asked the copilot if there were any changes. He informed me we had been cleared to 3000' which he set in the altitude reminder. Approximately 1 min later approach asked our altitude. I replied, '3000' assigned.' he informed me that that altitude was for another aircraft with the same call numbers, but a different company. The controller apologized several times for not informing us that the other aircraft was on the frequency. He then told us to maintain 3000', since we were needed down at that altitude shortly anyway. We should have been informed about the other aircraft by the controller. Also, if 2 similar call signs are on the same frequency, the controller must state the company name more clearly if not twice. I also feel that pilots should listen more closely and should not anticipate controller's clrncs. This way they will be more inclined to question a call sign not heard clearly over the radio. It would not be assumed it was for them just because it sounds close. Supplemental information from acn 82522: controller acknowledged confusion over flight numbers. After that the controller said the name of the airline, the flight number and airline name again whenever talking to us or the other airline with the same number. I sometimes find the bos controllers a bit more difficult to understand than most others. Some seem to cut off the beginnings of their transmissions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LTT RESPONDED TO CLRNC FOR ANOTHER ACR WITH SAME FLT NUMBER AND DEVIATED FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS TALKING TO COMPANY ON THE #2 RADIO, GIVING OUR STANDARD IN RANGE CALL. WHEN I SWITCHED BACK TO #1 RADIO I ASKED THE COPLT IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES. HE INFORMED ME WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 3000' WHICH HE SET IN THE ALT REMINDER. APPROX 1 MIN LATER APCH ASKED OUR ALT. I REPLIED, '3000' ASSIGNED.' HE INFORMED ME THAT THAT ALT WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH THE SAME CALL NUMBERS, BUT A DIFFERENT COMPANY. THE CTLR APOLOGIZED SEVERAL TIMES FOR NOT INFORMING US THAT THE OTHER ACFT WAS ON THE FREQ. HE THEN TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 3000', SINCE WE WERE NEEDED DOWN AT THAT ALT SHORTLY ANYWAY. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE OTHER ACFT BY THE CTLR. ALSO, IF 2 SIMILAR CALL SIGNS ARE ON THE SAME FREQ, THE CTLR MUST STATE THE COMPANY NAME MORE CLEARLY IF NOT TWICE. I ALSO FEEL THAT PLTS SHOULD LISTEN MORE CLOSELY AND SHOULD NOT ANTICIPATE CTLR'S CLRNCS. THIS WAY THEY WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO QUESTION A CALL SIGN NOT HEARD CLEARLY OVER THE RADIO. IT WOULD NOT BE ASSUMED IT WAS FOR THEM JUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS CLOSE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 82522: CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED CONFUSION OVER FLT NUMBERS. AFTER THAT THE CTLR SAID THE NAME OF THE AIRLINE, THE FLT NUMBER AND AIRLINE NAME AGAIN WHENEVER TALKING TO US OR THE OTHER AIRLINE WITH THE SAME NUMBER. I SOMETIMES FIND THE BOS CTLRS A BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THAN MOST OTHERS. SOME SEEM TO CUT OFF THE BEGINNINGS OF THEIR TRANSMISSIONS.

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.