A310
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Chart Or Publication; Procedure
The SJU RNAV SID 5-10 page states in bold print: After takeoff; contact Departure Control on assigned frequency. We understood this to direct an automatic switch after takeoff. Upon contacting Departure; we were told to return to Tower Frequency. Tower Controller asked why we changed frequencies without being told. I stated directions in SID departure procedure. Tower stated to wait for frequency change in future. Tower then switched us to Departure without further comment.  I reviewed other SIDs and this verbiage was not included. Many international locations have this directive so it was confusing to read and then be reprimanded for doing as SID directs.
The reporter clarified that his airline utilized commercially provided aero charts and that 5-10 is the identifier for the 'descriptive narrative page' for the ACONY RNAV SID. This chart supplier utilizes separate pages for the 'narrative' and the 'graphic depiction' of each SID and/or STAR. Although he didn't have access to his charts during the callback; his recollection was that the statement regarding contacting Departure after takeoff was in 'BOLD PRINT' and appeared to apply to all SJU SIDS not just the ACONY.In a second callback reporter clarified that his reference to 'other SIDs' referred to those at other airports (primarily domestic) which 'do' require that the Tower 'clear' flights to contact Departure--as ATC in San Juan had scolded him for his failure to await. He reaffirmed that the 5-10 chart made it quite apparent that the bold print directive to contact Departure Control after takeoff applied to at least the ACONY and GLADA SIDS and could be read so as to apply to all SIDs.
An A310 flight crew departing SJU contacted Departure immediately after departure as directed by the narrative page of their commercially (2) provided ACONY RNAV SID procedure. Departure sent them back to the Tower to receive clearance to change frequencies.