Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 86
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
We were filed to DEN on the AALLE1 Arrival. At some point we were given delay vectors and received a clearance direct AAILE; AAILE ONE arrival. I was unaware that ATC pronounces AALLE as AAILE. The only arrival that ends in AIL is the QUAIL 1. A quick look at fixes into DEN also shows a waypoint FLAIL on the AALLE arrival. I expected AALLE to be pronounced like ALLEY. In any event there are too many waypoints that sound similar flying into DEN.
Air Carrier Captain reported similar sounding fix names AAILE/FLAIL caused confusion and a route deviation during arrival to DEN airport.