Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Air Traffic Control Developmental
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
A Cessna was doing pattern work and Airport Maintenance was doing work throughout the airport. Ground Control coordinated that Airport Maintenance wanted to drive Runway 14L and hold short of Runway 18. I approved and changed my Cessna to Runway 14R and cleared him for the option. The Cessna asked if he could cross midfield I replied negative extend your base Runway 14R; cleared for the option. Relinquished Runway 14L to Ground Control. Then Ground stated that the Maintenance vehicle now wanted Runway 14R. I advised him we switched the Cessna to the right because of the request and to hold short of Runway 14R; Ground acknowledged. I believe Ground was contacted by two airport vehicles with requests at the same time and because the call signs are so similar; and on frequency sound similar; one took the others permission to proceed as requested. As the aircraft was flaring over the approach end of Runway 14R the CIC/Supervisor yelled out is he on the runway; vehicle on the runway. My Trainer and I were looking at the airplane and the vehicle was at the approach end of the runway but not on the runway. The confusion involved two similar sounding call signs for trucks both in the area and when ground replied. I would make sure that all vehicles that have access to the airport don't have similar sounding call signs. I also recommend better radios.
Ground Control (GC) was having issues with two vehicles with similar sounding call signs. Ground instructed him to proceed as requested hold short of all runway's; but both vehicles started moving. Noticed the vehicle by the approach end of Runway 14R close but not on the runway and still moving. CIC noticed this first and drew it to the attention of me at Local Control. I told the Trainee I was training to send the Cessna around; the aircraft was less than a quarter mile final and approximately 100 FT AGL. He went around; continued to do pattern work while CIC and Ground worked with the vehicles to straighten the problem out. Rename one of the vehicles so the call signs aren't so similar.
Tower Controller described a runway incursion event when several airport vehicles were requesting runway clearances all with similar call signs.