Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy
First a story: Once upon a time in a place far; far away called FAA Land; the airlines would do things in compliance with FAA regulations like not fly airplanes with cracks in the fuselage or reintroduce call signs that knowingly cause confusion amongst pilots and controllers or other things that intentionally endangered the flying public. If they didn't comply with FAA regulations and requirements they faced fines for their misbehavior. Fast forward to today when alas; Air Carrier AAAB and Air Carrier AABB have been reintroduced into the NAS and generally meet daily in the same vicinity when it is very busy. I was working a High sector and worked Air Carrier AABB off Atlanta and switched the aircraft to another sector. I quick looked the sector; which was 'Red' at the time; and sure enough there was Air Carrier AAAB Northbound. I received an email from the ERC within the last month that said that Air Carrier would change these call signs by this date. I think they did change; but they are now back. These call signs were a known issue to anyone who would listen. I informed the pilot who was very upset that it was a known issue and I personally would do everything I could to get something changed. I expressed the sentiment that now that a dangerous incident had occurred that maybe change could be brought about. Well; nothing but temporary change has happened in two years. If we knowingly allow the airlines to endanger flight safety what kind of regulatory agency are we? We should be ensuring that the airlines don't do things like this that endanger the public rather than helping them develop procedures that are ill-advised; ill-conceived and ill-implemented.
ZTL Controller described an unsafe condition noting the similar call signs used by one air carrier that frequently operates flights in the same area and at the same time with easily confused flight numbers.