CTR CTLR INTERVENED ON THE DSCNT OF AN ACR LTT TO QUESTION ITS ALT ASSIGNMENT AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THE SAME ALT AS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO THE FLC.
Synopsis
CTR CTLR INTERVENED ON THE DSCNT OF AN ACR LTT TO QUESTION ITS ALT ASSIGNMENT AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THE SAME ALT AS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO THE FLC.
Narrative
ENRTE FROM PHL TO BDR AT 13000 FT IN THE PROX OF PLUME INTXN ON VECTOR 139; WE RECEIVE A VECTOR OF 120 DEGS. FLYING THE 120 DEG HDG WE WERE ISSUED A DSCNT TO 11000 FT. DURING THE DSCNT WE RECEIVED ANOTHER VECTOR OF 040 DEGS. PASSING THROUGH 12000 FT WE NOTICED TFC PASSING OFF OUR IMMEDIATE L; AT WHICH TIME ATC REQUESTED OUR ALT; TO WHICH I RESPONDED 11900 FT FOR 11000 WITH TFC IN SIGHT. UPON QUESTIONING ATC AS TO THE ALT THEY SHOWED US TO BE AT; THERE WAS A PAUSE THEN A RESPONSE OF 13000 FT; TO WHICH I EXPLAINED WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC FROM 13000 FT TO 11000 FT WHICH IS WHAT I READ BACK TO ATC. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL REQUEST OF 11000. SOME CONFUSION COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ALSO A COMPANY ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN ON THE SAME RTING; BUT AT A HIGHER ALT; AT THE SAME TIME. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 273897: I BELIEVE THE CTLR CONFUSED THE 2 FLT NUMBERS AND ISSUED US A CLRNC INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT. I BASE THIS ON THE CTLR'S RESPONSE TO OUR QUESTIONS; THE SOUND OF CONFUSION IN HER VOICE AND THE FACT THAT A NEW CTLR STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONFLICT. WE ARE NOTIFYING OUR COMPANY OF THE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ON THE SAME RTE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.