TRACON controller providing OJT described conflict event during holding procedures; reporter thinkin...

Attributes
ACN	826652
Time
Date	200903
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Radar 6.5 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 5 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict

Narrative:

I was training my trainee on our east radar position. The overall traffic level had become more than the trainee was able to handle. We had 2 aircraft (aircraft X and aircraft Y) holding approximately 10 miles north of ZZZ. Aircraft X was at 4;000 ft. Aircraft Y was at 5;000 ft. They were holding to allow faster traffic to get in. When the time was appropriate; I instructed aircraft X to descend to 3;000 ft and that they were cleared for the VOR 18 approach. Aircraft Y responded saying my transmission was blocked and asked if that was for them. Being busy; I thought that I had initially cleared the wrong aircraft and responded aircraft Y to descend and cleared for approach. I simply thought I was talking to aircraft X the second transmission but I used the wrong call sign. I am not sure if any separation was in fact lost. But I definitely used the wrong call sign on the second approach clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACON Controller providing OJT described conflict event during holding procedures; reporter thinking one call sign; but using another; when issuing descent instructions.

Narrative: I was training my Trainee on our East Radar position. The overall traffic level had become more than the Trainee was able to handle. We had 2 aircraft (Aircraft X and Aircraft Y) holding approximately 10 miles north of ZZZ. Aircraft X was at 4;000 FT. Aircraft Y was at 5;000 FT. They were holding to allow faster traffic to get in. When the time was appropriate; I instructed Aircraft X to descend to 3;000 FT and that they were cleared for the VOR 18 approach. Aircraft Y responded saying my transmission was blocked and asked if that was for them. Being busy; I thought that I had initially cleared the wrong aircraft and responded Aircraft Y to descend and cleared for approach. I simply thought I was talking to Aircraft X the second transmission but I used the wrong call sign. I am not sure if any separation was in fact lost. But I definitely used the wrong call sign on the second approach clearance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

TRACON controller providing OJT described conflict event during holding procedures; reporter thinking one call sign; but using another; when issuing descent instructions.