Narrative:

A B777 departed jfk airport climbing to 11;000 [handed off] from approach. Aircraft given direct bette from N90 and frequency changed to ZBW. Aircraft checked on leaving 4;600 for 11;000. I issued 14;000. Ny approach alerted me to aircraft turning off course. I turned aircraft right to a 100 heading. The B777 had made an approximate 90 degree left turn during climb. Upon questioning; the pilot stated they had been cleared direct bette by N90; in flight plan; pilots typed in betty[not the intended bette] which caused the drastic turn off course. Further investigation on the betty intersection came up with 2 lat/log [coordinates]; both in the vicinity of taiwan. This has happened on this route/departure out of jfk on other occasions as well. Once aircraft was reestablished on the route flight went as planned. Flight plan route was kjfk bette ack... We have weekly; almost daily; encountered numerous similar sounding fixes; navaids; intersections causing bad turns/deviations. More care needs to be taken when naming them. Also pilot awareness should have been better. Typing in the wrong fix/spelling sending aircraft in a complete direction should have raised some flags. Unfamiliar with aircraft equipment one would think that there would be some question generated as 'are you sure' before entering and sending aircraft on/off course. Today's aircraft data bases are loaded with the worldwide/global fixes which also adds to the potential of numerous similar or same fixes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW Controller described a route clearance error by a JFK departure apparently caused when the flight crew typed in the wrong fix resulting in the unexpected turn; the reporter noting multiple similar occurrences.

Narrative: A B777 departed JFK airport climbing to 11;000 [handed off] from Approach. Aircraft given direct BETTE from N90 and frequency changed to ZBW. Aircraft checked on leaving 4;600 for 11;000. I issued 14;000. NY Approach alerted me to aircraft turning off course. I turned aircraft right to a 100 heading. The B777 had made an approximate 90 degree left turn during climb. Upon questioning; the pilot stated they had been cleared direct BETTE by N90; in flight plan; pilots typed in BETTY[not the intended BETTE] which caused the drastic turn off course. Further investigation on the BETTY Intersection came up with 2 Lat/Log [coordinates]; both in the vicinity of Taiwan. This has happened on this route/departure out of JFK on other occasions as well. Once aircraft was reestablished on the route flight went as planned. Flight plan route was KJFK BETTE ACK... We have weekly; almost daily; encountered numerous similar sounding fixes; navaids; intersections causing bad turns/deviations. More care needs to be taken when naming them. Also pilot awareness should have been better. Typing in the wrong fix/spelling sending aircraft in a complete direction should have raised some flags. Unfamiliar with aircraft equipment one would think that there would be some question generated as 'are you sure' before entering and sending aircraft on/off course. Today's aircraft data bases are loaded with the worldwide/global fixes which also adds to the potential of numerous similar or same fixes.

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.