Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 1228
Other / Unknown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Chart Or Publication; Procedure
The PDC gave us climb via the BLTWY6 SID except maintain 5;000 feet. The SID itself states top altitude 16;000 feet. 16;000 feet was briefed on the takeoff briefing pre-departure. On the climbout upon contacting Houston Departure; checked in around 2;200 feet in a left turn to 350. On the check in I stated 'Aircraft X 2;200 feet climbing 16;000 feet heading 350' to which ATC responded 'no maintain 5;000 feet' at this point we were about 3;000 feet and easily would make the 5;000 feet level off. ATC then told us to continue climb to 16;000 feet.  During the climb Houston then gave us a number to call. The Captain called upon arrival in ZZZ; he told me there was no deviation; they were just tracking these incorrect check-ins' because apparently it happens frequently. The Captain and I then went and talked to the [Chief Pilot] about the event. I would like to reiterate that there was NO actual altitude deviation at any time during this event [FAA Representative] informed us during the phone conversation that every jet receiving this and other departures out of HOU would receive on the PDC/Clearance to maintain 5;000 feet; with the SID published at 16;000 feet. This discrepancy is what caused the check in. If every jet out of HOU is going to be assigned 5;000 feet [then] change the SID to reflect that. Leaving a top altitude published on the SID with no intentions of having pilots climb to that altitude is creating an extra hole in the swiss cheese for flight crews to have to catch and mitigate.
Air Carrier First Officer reported that a commonly missed altitude restriction on the PDC is not published on the BLTWY6 SID; resulting in confusion.