Just listening to JFK departure 135.900 (8:05 EDT - 17SEP) and a "Cactus" flight advised the controller that they will be switching back to the "US Air" callsign in 2 days. DJ
The pilot was misinformed. Please read the GENOT in response # 20 of this thread. Their three letter identifier will change to AWE. Their call sign will be Cactus effective 9/19/08.
This should help from the controller's perspective. For the controller it is like looking at the word "red" printed in blue ink and asking what color is the word. The change to AWE will be consistent with the callsign with which it has been historically attached.
Now it's up to the eastern based pilots to play along. This has been slightly problematic. Some will just say the flight number. This is certainly a safety issue which has to be addressed. I'm glad that it has been addressed on one end of the problem.
Looks like Adrian8 and I were posting at the same time.
w0x0f