could flight numbers be assigned to minimize radio confusion?

[atclistener100]

I am a total novice and brand new member.  So, this is probably a silly question that most people already know the answer to.

I just listened to the Jan 17-18 (whenever)  Caribbean 526/JetBlue 1295 abort.

I've listened to hundreds of Youtube atc clips (many liveatc.net, I think).

I am not in the aviation industry in any way.

But I'm wondering about something... How, and by who, are "flight numbers" assigned? On any given day, there might be a "Delta 1250" (just for example), and maybe an "American Airlines 1150". I'm just pulling those numbers out of the air, as examples....

How are all those numbers assigned?  Does the same flight have the same number every day? Like, if there is a Delta flight from Minneapolis to Denver every day at 1:00pm, is it always or usually the same "number"?

The other question depends on the answer to the first. Has anybody ever considered a computer algorithm that would process all the assigned flight numbers, on perhaps a daily basis, that would look for phonetic or textual similarities that could statistically cause a miscommunication?

This would be a trivial task for nearly any computer programmer to write.

For example.......On Tuesday morning, say there is a Delta 1170 flight, and during the same few hours there is a JetBlue 770.   I could see how those call signs could be slightly confused through all the garbling, hiss, background noise, etc.   And the ATC's  talk SO fast.

Anyway, anybody know?

Thanks

[Rick108]

In general, flight numbers remain the same from day to day.  For example, the 6am United flight from JFK to LAX is always United 441, etc.  To do what you are proposing would be more of an exercise in determining where all the flights intersected within the same ATC sector and then trying to rename flights with "similar" call signs that crossed in the same sector at the same time.  But given the variation in the actual schedule each day (i.e. many flights are late, delayed by weather, etc. etc.) I think it would be nearly impossible to catch all the cases.  And, there are ATC procedures in place to minimize the risk when one controller is working two similar-sounding call signs. I'm not sure there would be much of a benefit...

[JetScan1]

Has anybody ever considered a computer algorithm that would process all the assigned flight numbers, on perhaps a daily basis, that would look for phonetic or textual similarities that could statistically cause a miscommunication?

Yes, in Europe ...

https://www.eurocontrol.int/services/call-sign-similarity-css-service#field-tabs-tab-1

They have also been using alphanumeric callsigns in Europe for over 10 years now. This is where the flight number is changed to a combination of numbers and letters. The practice is slowly being implemented in North America. So far Skywest and Air Wisconsin have been noted using them on selected flights.