Citation X (C750)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
Concerning the Offshore 5 departure out of SFO: The instructions off of Runways 1L/R appear to be fly the 350 radial from SFO and cross 4 DME at or above 1;600 FT. Off Runways 28L/R is similar; but the clearance is followed with 'THEN RESUME SID'. Those words; 'then resume SID'; are NOT printed on the initial instructions off Runways 1L/R; leading one to believe they should continue on the SFO 350 degree radial. There are routing instructions underneath; but only the Runway 28L/R say to resume the SID. Because the visual depiction plan view shows a turn after departing 1L/R contrary to the verbiage; I asked clearance for clarification. He took a few minutes to review the chart and he indicated it was worded poorly. He said to automatically make the turn as depicted. The biggest reason for the confusion is the inconsistency in the verbiage between 1L/R and 28L/R.We cleared up all confusion with SFO clearance delivery prior to take off.
A CE750 First Officer questioned the lack of the statement '...then resume SID' in the INITIAL CLIMB description for Runways 28L&R departures on the OFFSHORE5 SID from SFO since the statement was included for departures off Runways 1L&R. After questioning the procedure with Clearance Delivery they agreed it was 'worded poorly.'