Commercial Fixed Wing
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; No Specific Anomaly Occurred Unwanted Situation
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
I wanted to share an experience on the new RNAV Visual Approach Runway 17L in MCO. There are two fixes that initiate this approach; CELOT and FELUK. On paper they look different; but in the heat of the moment over the radio they sound similar. During a recent approach we requested this procedure. Approaching from the northwest we were given direct FELUK; cross it at or above 3;000 ft. and cleared for the RNAV visual. Expectation bias led me to hear CELOT (the closer of the two fixes and the logical transition from our position) and I initially loaded that into the FMC; but fortunately the First Officer had heard FELUK and after a quick clarification with ATC we loaded and flew that transition. Definitely weird since we passed CELOT to fly to FELUK; which also required what I would call an inefficient turn to final. Not sure why the Controller did this. Perhaps for separation; or perhaps in the heat of the moment he thought that was the closest and most logical fix for us. I'd like to see one of the fixes renamed so they sound distinctly different; perhaps change one of the names such that both are not two syllables in length. Perhaps also add an alert that vectoring to the opposite side (further away) fix is possible.
Pilot reports similar sounding names of two fixes.