ZMP controller described a confused descent clearance situation; claiming same company similar call ...

Narrative:

I had been in the radar position for approximately 15-20 minutes and didn't recognize two aircraft with similar sounding call signs. I put air carrier XXXX on a vector for sequencing msp arrivals. He accepted the clearance. A few minutes later the conflict alert went off and I resumed air carrier XXXX on course and a descent to FL280. He responded but did not turn or descend. I gave air carrier XXXX a further descent; told him of his company traffic and to resume on course. He once again acknowledged. I still did not see the aircraft descend so I turned his company over fsd that was also at FL310 to a 90 heading and asked again. Air carrier yxxx responded saying I have been doing everything you asked! It was then that I realized the similar sounding call signs and was able to give the correct call sign all the clearances I had been giving to air carrier yxxx instead of air carrier XXXX. I would appreciate the airlines not giving aircraft landing at the same airport at the same time similar sounding call signs!! Luckily air carrier yxxx was on course and had previously been given a descent clearance. I would recommend that airlines not use similar sounding call signs for aircraft landing the same airport at the same time. This has been an issue since a recent merger and now it has resulted in what could have been a major disaster!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMP Controller described a confused descent clearance situation; claiming same company similar call signs were the primary causal factor; adding airlines should make efforts to reduce similar flight numbers during the same time frames.

Narrative: I had been in the RADAR position for approximately 15-20 minutes and didn't recognize two aircraft with similar sounding call signs. I put Air Carrier XXXX on a vector for sequencing MSP arrivals. He accepted the clearance. A few minutes later the Conflict Alert went off and I resumed Air Carrier XXXX on course and a descent to FL280. He responded but did not turn or descend. I gave Air Carrier XXXX a further descent; told him of his company traffic and to resume on course. He once again acknowledged. I still did not see the aircraft descend so I turned his company over FSD that was also at FL310 to a 90 heading and asked again. Air Carrier YXXX responded saying I have been doing everything you asked! It was then that I realized the similar sounding call signs and was able to give the correct call sign all the clearances I had been giving to Air Carrier YXXX instead of Air Carrier XXXX. I would appreciate the airlines not giving aircraft landing at the same airport at the same time similar sounding call signs!! Luckily Air Carrier YXXX was on course and had previously been given a descent clearance. I would recommend that airlines not use similar sounding call signs for aircraft landing the same airport at the same time. This has been an issue since a recent merger and now it has resulted in what could have been a major disaster!

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	913892
Time
Date	201010
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZMP.ARTCC
State Reference	MN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-90 Series (DC-9-90) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B757-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZMP controller described a confused descent clearance situation; claiming same company similar call signs were the primary causal factor; adding airlines should make efforts to reduce similar flight numbers during the same time frames.