Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
While climbing via WEVIC 3 HVE; [ATC stated] CLEARED DIRECT ETALK; DELETE SPEEDS; M FL230. Mistakenly believed ETALK at or below 16;000' still applied because of climb via clearance. Leveled off at 16;000' a few miles prior to ETALK ; ATC then said climb unrestricted to FL230. After reviewing climb via/descend via quick reference guide; I realized the altitude restriction at ETALK was deleted with 'maintain FL230' clearance. It seems that there is still mass confusion on new rules for 'climb via' clearances; and with 'descend via' clearances; as some procedures are becoming more and more complicated; especially when one or more 'except' clearances are issued. I'm sure someone thinks these new rules are an improvement; but my opinion is that there are often too many complications for too few benefits. The email type messages I have received on these new procedures have not been effective and I have received virtually no formal training.
Air Carrier Captain reported misunderstanding the meaning of a revised clearance to fly direct to ETALK; delete speeds; climb and maintain FL230 after initially being cleared to climb via the WEVIC 3 HVE. The altitude at ETALK is honored and should not have been.