Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11; Flight Crew Total 10930
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Environment - Non Weather Related
While cruising at FL410 west of DEN [airport]; the Captain and I were analyzing a severe thunderstorm complex on our route of flight over NE. Our route of flight was DBL-HCT (Hayes Center)-OVR-BDF. I referenced my JeppPro app and suggested a route to the south; via HYS (Hays)-BDF. The Captain verified the routing with the dispatcher who agreed with the plan. The Captain then radioed Denver Center and requested the weather reroute by asking for 'direct Hayes Center direct Bradford'. I saw that on my JeppPro chart the VOR we wanted to fly to was 'Hayes'; but I knew I often heard 'Hayes Center' referred to on the radio so I thought to myself it was a colloquial reference to the same fix. When the Controller asked for us to repeat the request; I reminded the Captain 'Hays' but he repeated 'Hayes Center'; and I didn't speak up more forcefully again thinking it wasn't quite correct but it was colloquial reference to the same fix. I entered HYS into the FMS; verified it with the Captain and executed the turn; approximately 10 degrees right. A few minutes later we were issued a frequency change to a new Denver Center Controller who answered our check-in with; 'it looks like you're on a shortcut.' The Captain explained that we had received a new clearance due to weather from the previous Controller and said that we were 'direct hotel-yankee-sierra direct bravo-delta-foxtrot.' The Controller said something like 'I'll make sure that's updated for you' and that was the end of the discussion. At that point the Captain and I went back and reconstructed why the Controller seemed unaware of our routing and at that point I realized the Hayes vs. Hayes Center confusion - that there are two frequently-used NAVAIDs in close geographic proximity with extremely similar names.
Air Carrier Pilot reported two similar sounding VORTACs west of DEN; Hays (HYS) and Hayes Center (HCT). The confusion caused a track deviation.