RPTR COMPLAINT REGARDING CONFUSION TO BOTH PLT AND CTLR WHEN COMPANY SCHEDULES MANY FLTS WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS WITHIN ONE HALF HR PERIOD.

Date: 1993-05 · Aircraft: Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng · Phase: approach

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

RPTR COMPLAINT REGARDING CONFUSION TO BOTH PLT AND CTLR WHEN COMPANY SCHEDULES MANY FLTS WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS WITHIN ONE HALF HR PERIOD.

Narrative

DURING VECTORS FOR THE FINAL TO RWY 23L AT IND WE WERE ON APCH 119.3. CALL SIGN COMPANY DJJE. THE CTLR GAVE SEVERAL CLRNCS -- HDG AND ALT CHANGES TO COMPANY DJBE WHICH WERE INTENDED FOR COMPANY DJJE. WE WERE TO LAND RWY 23L; DJJE WAS TO LAND RWY 23R. THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN PUT DJJE AND DJBE INTO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT. THE ONLY WAY WE COULD SEPARATE WHAT HE WANTED WAS TO WAIT AND SEE WHICH ILS HE SAID TO INTERCEPT; RWY 23L AND RWY 23R. THIS IS NOT -- REPEAT NOT -- A CONDEMNATION OF THE CTLR. THERE ARE TOO MANY ACFT COMING INTO IND WITH THE SAME DJXX CALL SIGN! COMPANY HAS 15 FLTS WITH DJXX CALL SIGNS; ALL SCHEDULED TO LAND BEGINNING AT XX46 AND ENDING AT XY18 LCL. 15 SIMILAR CALL SIGNS WITHIN APPROX 30 MIN PERIOD. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR A MIDAIR. TRY AS WE MIGHT; WE CAN'T GET THE HUMAN FACTOR OUT OF THE LOOP. PLTS OR CTLRS WILL MAKE MISTAKES. PLEASE BRING THIS TO THE ATTN OF FAA; AND COMPANY MGMNT; SOMEBODY WHO CAN GET IT CHANGED. I'VE TRIED INTERNALLY AND I GET NOWHERE! AS IT WAS; ALL I HAD TO DO WAS A GAR!

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.