B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 235; Flight Crew Type 2273
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
STAKR3 SID out of DEN has a top altitude of FL230. PDC limited that altitude to 10000. On initial communication with departure control the controller stated 'climb via the SID'. The FO and I were both confused as to what he meant by that. Was it to maintain the top altitude as assigned on the PDC or the top altitude of the SID itself? So I asked for clarification from the controller and it was to climb to the top altitude of FL230. The very next aircraft that checked on was given the same exact clearance. He also questioned the clearance as I did. The controller stated to him that the clearance was valid and it canceled what was on the PDC. Whether or not it is valid I'm actually not sure. What I do know is that it was ambiguous and unclear not only to myself and my FO but the aircraft behind me. Neither one of was sure what 'top altitude' to comply with. The RNAV SIDs are designed to cut down controller/pilot workload but I find that with confusing and ambiguous phraseology it ends up increasing our work load and the possibility of breaking an altitude.
B737 Captain reported being confused by a 'climb via' clearance from ATC that did not agree with his PDC.