EVA Vs. Viva Callsign Confusion Causes Chicago O'Hare Runway Incursion

One of my favorite expressions, "situational awareness."

Well isn't EVA supposed to be said E-V-A?

Not the callsign.

"Clearly the Viva pilots lacked situational awareness"

@Ben

I won't put it that they lack situational awareness. They probably experienced EXPECTATION BIAS. It's actually a deadly phenomenon.
They pilots were holding short of a runway they were meant to be taking off from any moment, the minute they heard something that sounds like VIVA, the brain fills in the rest for them making them believe that what they have been expecting is what was just said.

This can be a very serious issue if the situation of event was a lot different.

I don't think that might be the case here.

This looks like an active case of EXPECTATION BIAS

Expectation bias. Can easily happen. "Eee-vah" and "Vee-vah" are obviously phonetically similar - the VIVA crew was next for departure, and heard a "Line up and wait" with a call sign that sounded like theirs (sure sounded like it started like their name...had a 6 as the beginning call sign... brain can tune out the rest because it believes it got the right info already). Having two probably "English as a second language" crews likely contributed.

Anyone else notice the controller's error after? It's another example of expectation bias. When the controller is working to sort it out (about :51 second mark in the video) he says, "EVA 647 Heavy, hold short of runway 28R... VIVA 647 Heavy, hold short of runway 28R".

So the controller said "VIVA" when he meant "EVA" in the second command. If you didn't notice - you just experienced Expectation Bias! You knew he was telling the EVA Heavy crew to hold short twice, so that's what you thought you heard. But listen closely - he didn't. He accidentally said "VIVA" in the repeated command.

Yes, this later controller error didn't cause the incident - it was after the incursion - but it demonstrates how easy it is to expect to hear one thing - so you think that's what you heard - but something else was actually said.

Nothing abnormal. This is how all Mexicans in Chicago drive.

Had all concerned observed the international protocol ‘Echo’ & ‘Victor’, etc, instead of inventing their own radio language, then the situation could have been avoided.

Ben, you have to start editing the white balance on these garish blue airplane photos.

It is “international protocol” to use the call sign (in this case, Eva and Viva) as a word, not to spell out the three letter operator code phonetically (in this case, “Echo Victor Alfa” and “Victor India Victor”)

Double stupidity, as expected.

"International protocol" is to use callsigns.

While Eva and Viva might sound similar, using phonetic words will now always have 26 overlapping words all the time. You just made communication longer and hundred times more confusing.

Another proof that you definitely never piloted anything more than a paper airplane. If they sent people like you to Falkland, the Argentines might actually win.

Acknowledging the controller was busy, likely very busy, the controller would optimally advise each aircraft of a second aircraft on the frequency with a similar sounding call sign, and also by pronouncing the airline name both before and after the flight number. That said, all the armchair quarterbacks should stand down. This was not controller error in any way.

Can it not be both expectation bias and a lack of situational awareness? I think so.