Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
We were level at FL230. Center cleared us to; 'Descend and maintain FL220.' We started to descend. At about FL225; we heard Center give ACR AABA (a different flight enroute to the same VOR) the same assignment: Descend and Maintain FL220. The First Officer immediately stopped our descent and initiated a climb back to FL230 while simultaneously; I asked to confirm our assignment. The Controller seemed a little confused with the two similar call signs. (Ours was ACR ABBA). He then gave us a new clearance to FL210. Center then cleared the other flight; ACR AABA to FL220. Center then advised us both of similar call signs on frequency. Both flights acknowledged.If there is any way to keep similar sounding call signs from being in the same area it would help. Also; a huge help would be to go back to the 3 digit call sign. ACR BBA sounds very different from ACR ABA.
[Report narrative contained no additional information].
Similar sounding four digit flight numbers both inbound to the same VOR were both cleared to maintain the same altitude. The first flight so cleared recognized the issue and returned to their originally cleared altitude while the error was corrected and all involved informed.