Date: 201606
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZNY.ARTCC, NY
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Taxi
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Ferry / Re-Positioning
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZNY
ATC / advisory: Center ZNY
Aircraft component: FMS/FMC
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Fractional
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Procedure
Primary problem: Airspace Structure

Narrative: Had a last minute full route clearance. First Officer wrote down the clearance. We went through the points and looked at the route which showed us going west of JFK.  This made sense to us because [ATC] frequently will route us way west for incoming or out going traffic.  We were given numerous headings by ATC before given direct to what we thought was RUBER with a long U sound. That is how ATC pronounced it as well. Not ROBER with a long O sound which is where we [were] supposed to be going. After a couple minutes ATC asked where we were heading. We let them know to RUBER and they said no to ROBER. We apologized and put ROBER in the box.  This made more sense as it was a more direct route to JFK.The points ROBER and RUBER are only about 50 miles from one another. RUBER is further west of JFK but not glaringly so it didn't raise any flags when we checked the route on the box and iPad.  Also the pronunciation by ATC was RUBER not ROBER which also made us unaware we had misspelled the fix. Suggest renaming one of the fixes as they are too similar in name and too close to one another.


Second narrative: After several minutes ATC queried us on our clearance fix. We stated RUBER when he had meant ROBER. He instructed us to fly a new heading and no conflicts occurred. Rest of the flight was uneventful.RUBER and ROBER are very similar in nature especially with different accents that can be found in the NY airspace personnel. I would suggest that pilots and controllers alpha numerically spell similar sounding fixes to avoid confusion in the future. These fixes are approximately 50 miles apart and not blatantly apparent to send up red flags especially in the NY area where high traffic volumes can cause unusual vectors or routes. Possibly removing/renaming one of these fixes from the area my avoid this confusion in the future.


Synopsis: A Corporate Jet flight crew filed to JFK was cleared direct the ROBER waypoint; but heard RUBER resulting in a track deviation. ATC informed them about their error and reissued the correct waypoint. RUBER and ROBER are about 50 nm apart in the New York area.