ZFW controller described airspace incursion event when a descent clearance was issued to the wrong a...

Narrative:

Working the dfw arrivals; northeast corner; high altitude; multiple aircraft on vectors and with assigned speeds for spacing. Had 3 aircraft on frequency with similar call signs; air carrier XXXX; air carrier xyxx; air carrier xxyx. Air carrier xyxx was being vectored for spacing. I advised air carrier XXXX of similar call signs. I meant to issue air carrier xyxx descent clearance to FL240; but instead issued it to air carrier XXXX; who read it back and I didn't catch it. Updated the data block of air carrier xyxx to reflect an assigned altitude of FL240. Noticed air carrier XXXX descending in ZME rzc hi sector and told him to stop his descent and that he had probably taken his company's clearance. My RA advised ZME rzc hi sector that the aircraft had taken another aircraft's clearance; which we both thought to be correct. Recommendation; I would recommend; as we do repeatedly; that this particular airline quit filing flight plans with so similar of call signs. Their pilots even joke about it on the frequency. It is a hazard to aviation and even though this is the first time it has happened to me; it was only a matter of time. This is a daily occurrence. I do not absolve myself of responsibility for this incident but it never would've happened without the similar call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZFW Controller described airspace incursion event when a descent clearance was issued to the wrong aircraft; reporter noted four air carriers with similar four digit call signs were on frequency.

Narrative: Working the DFW arrivals; northeast corner; high altitude; multiple aircraft on vectors and with assigned speeds for spacing. Had 3 aircraft on frequency with similar call signs; Air Carrier XXXX; Air Carrier XYXX; Air Carrier XXYX. Air Carrier XYXX was being vectored for spacing. I advised Air Carrier XXXX of similar call signs. I meant to issue Air Carrier XYXX descent clearance to FL240; but instead issued it to Air Carrier XXXX; who read it back and I didn't catch it. Updated the data block of Air Carrier XYXX to reflect an assigned altitude of FL240. Noticed Air Carrier XXXX descending in ZME RZC Hi Sector and told him to stop his descent and that he had probably taken his company's clearance. My RA advised ZME RZC Hi Sector that the aircraft had taken another aircraft's clearance; which we both thought to be correct. Recommendation; I would recommend; as we do repeatedly; that this particular airline quit filing flight plans with so similar of call signs. Their pilots even joke about it on the frequency. It is a hazard to aviation and even though this is the first time it has happened to me; it was only a matter of time. This is a daily occurrence. I do not absolve myself of responsibility for this incident but it never would've happened without the similar call signs.

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.

Attributes
ACN	874737
Time
Date	201002
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZFW.ARTCC
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZFW controller described airspace incursion event when a descent clearance was issued to the wrong aircraft; reporter noted four air carriers with similar four digit call signs were on frequency.