B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 215
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Procedure
I've been flying through RSW twice each week this month. Every flight (when departing Runway 6); I receive the abbreviated clearance 'Cleared to ZZZ airport via the CSHEL 5; LAKELAND transition; Squawk XXXX.' The CRAFT acronym (Clearance; Route; Altitude; Frequency; Transponder) comes to mind when reviewing any clearance. Mentally; I check off every item. Route looks good; frequency is on the chart; transponder is in the box; altitude...? They didn't give me an altitude to maintain or a climb via SID instruction. I then queried ATC and asked them to confirm the altitude assignment. They replied; 'You are cleared via the CSHEL 5 Departure; that's all the information I have for you.' That's odd.So every departure out of RSW this month; I receive the same old clearance which prompts the same old altitude conversation. The responses from Controllers vary from 'You are cleared via the CSHEL 5' to 'I'm only allowed to refer you to the top altitude of 4000 ft on your chart' to 'just fly runway heading to 4000 ft' to 'we're not allowed to issue a climb via SID clearance because there are no crossing restrictions on the SID.'I decided that obviously I've missed a memo. Fort Myers must be on the leading edge of a new Clearance Delivery test program which removes altitude assignments from clearances. I turned to the ATC 7110 for clarification. I'm not sure if I have the latest copy of this document; but 4-3-3 'Abbreviated Departure Clearance'; paragraph D1 states that Controllers are to: 'Specify the assigned altitude. The altitude may be omitted and Pilots instructed to 'Climb via SID' when a top altitude is published in the SID route description.'So according to my informal research; Controllers are required to issue me an altitude or instruct me to climb via; neither of those voluntarily occur when departing Runway 6 on the CSHEL SID in RSW. There seems to be some sort of unique procedural interpretation issue going on in that Tower and they are banking on Pilots just accepting the clearance and ASSUMING that they are cleared to the top altitude of 4000 ft.
B737 First Officer reported that ATC did not issue an altitude assignment when the CSHEL5 from Runway 6 was the clearance nor did they state 'climb via the SID' on numerous occasions.