Small Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 3700; Flight Crew Type 2700
Confusion; Troubleshooting
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Procedure
We were assigned the Midway Nine Departure from Runway 4L at MDW Airport. Upon review of the SID (on the ground) we were unable to decipher what its intent was; so I queried ATC. The procedure off 4L/R reads 'NORTHBOUND departures assigned headings 360 clockwise through 080; climbing RIGHT turn to 2;400 FT heading 100 before proceeding on course.' Lower on the plate in the ROUTING window the initial altitude is listed as 3;000 FT. The initial climb instructions for 4L/R are absolutely undecipherable and ridiculous. I asked MDW Tower (before our departure) what its intent was and they said that even they couldn't figure it out. This SID needs to be updated immediately to read in plain English. When an FAA facility that controls the airspace cannot understand the procedure something is wrong.
During preflight a confused Corporate Jet pilot assigned Runway 4L questioned ATC about the MDW 9 Departure INITIAL CLIMB verbiage 'RIGHT turn to 2;400' which appeared to conflict with the ROUTING verbiage 'MAINTAIN 3;000 FT or assigned lower altitude.'