Can two planes with the same call sign be in the air at the same time?
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth WA/ UK
Programs: BA Gold, Priority Club Gold, Accor Silver, Virgin Australia Gold
Posts: 1,750
Absolutely. Differing airlines can and do have the same flight number while flying through the same sector of air traffic control. IE. Speedbird 566 could be in the same vicinity as Swiss 566.(numbers used are random choice)
#18
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors, Virgin
Posts: 766
In Europe we have CSS which we run as part of the Network Manager
"The use of similar call signs by aircraft operating in the same area, on the same radio frequency gives rise to potential and actual flight safety incidents.
The Call Sign Similarity (CSS) project, has been initiated by EUROCONTROL with the aim of establishing pan-European CSS solutions centred on a coordinated service operated by EUROCONTROL’s Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC). The aim is to reduce the level of operational call sign confusion events and therefore improve levels of safety."
"The use of similar call signs by aircraft operating in the same area, on the same radio frequency gives rise to potential and actual flight safety incidents.
The Call Sign Similarity (CSS) project, has been initiated by EUROCONTROL with the aim of establishing pan-European CSS solutions centred on a coordinated service operated by EUROCONTROL’s Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC). The aim is to reduce the level of operational call sign confusion events and therefore improve levels of safety."
BMA2
BMA52
BMA82
BMA652
BMA952
DAN102
DAN152
and a couple of others to add to the mix. It was a nightmare for all concerned. I think I may still have one of the reports that I filed at the time.
BA add the D to indicate a day late, but also use 91## out of the US. I think we were on BA9106 when our SAN flight got a 24 hour delay.
I actually didn't think it was now allowed to have 2 aircraft at all with the same callsign but happy to be corrected. Does the ANZ1/2 situation actually have the same day of operation?
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
There are a verrry few cases in which different segments have the same flight number. I recall that there were one or two on the AA schedule, but can't remember what they were. The real question, it seems to me, is whether flights near each other ever have the same numbers.
#20
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,926
There are a verrry few cases in which different segments have the same flight number. I recall that there were one or two on the AA schedule, but can't remember what they were. The real question, it seems to me, is whether flights near each other ever have the same numbers.
#22
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,503