Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure
Cleared EEONS 5 off rwy 08 DEN except maintain 10;000 feet. Checking in with departure we were cleared to FL230. As this coincides with the top altitude of the EEONS 5 I then asked to clarify if we were cleared unrestricted to FL 230. Controller refused to clarify that altitude clearance. Next followed a lengthy back and forth radio discussion where the controller told us that Denver controllers were instructed to no longer clarify or verify clearances. They could only clear us to climb 'via or just climb to an altitude.' No verbiage about unrestricted or deleting crossing restrictions was allowed. This SID has at or below altitude restrictions published so it requires multiple intermediate level offs and associated traffic as well as license violation hazards. The controller also stated that the except maintain 10;000 altitude clearance from PDC or clearance delivery was a 'local' tower assigned restriction and no longer applied once we switched to departure frequency. Our Flight Manual specifically directs us to ask and clarify any unclear or questionable altitude assignments. Perhaps for local DEN based pilots these clearances become routine and expected and understood in short hand speak but I am concerned by ATC REFUSAL to clarify an altitude assignment even after multiple requests to do so. That controller continued to refuse and finally along with a frequency change offered to let us speak with a supervisor on the frequency. If the goal is to reduce frequency congestion this hardly seems a good way to go about this. More initial clarity on altitude assignments and crystal clear assignment verbiage opposed to subtle variations in clearances might save additional follow up radio chatter.
Flight crew reported being cleared via the EEONS5 SID from DEN Runway 8 to FL230. Controller refused to clarify if the climb was unrestricted or climb via.