Citation Excel (C560XL)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 4000
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Chart Or Publication
Captain and Co-Captain (Flying Pilot) reviewed XEROX3 SID; Runway 4 at KROC using Jeppesen Plates. Prior to engine start. It was decided 1;200 MSL was the final altitude for the SID; upon reaching a turn to 360 was determined. Pilots discussed the low SID top altitude; but did not notice a higher altitude. Pilots resolved to query ATC Departure.Leveling 1;200; Captain (Non-Flying Pilot) advised ROC Departure of Runway Heading and 1;200 FT MSL. Simultaneously; Flying Pilot initiated turn to 360. Departure replied that a 360 heading was prescribed; to which CA acknowledged and stated we were now doing that; then immediately requested higher. Departure assigned 140 vector and stated 10;000 FT was the top altitude for XEROX 3 SID. FP initiated climb immediately to 10;000 FT. Upon further reviewed; crew noticed the 10;000 FT top altitude on the XEROX 3 SID on Jeppesen plate. We noticed the MAINTAIN 10;000 FT was separated on two lines at the line break as in this sentence; not in bold; and sandwiched between two other sentences in the paragraph; each beginning with the word EXPECT in caps.Although all information was printed on the SID and crew expressed discomfort prior to takeoff (amongst selves) with the low 1;200 FT MSL leveling altitude; crew determined a MAINTAIN 10;000 FT in BOLD would have helped differentiate the top altitude from surrounding text; as would placing said Bold Altitude above the individual runway procedures or in a separate and adjacent box as in many other SIDs. National Ocean Service plates show the top altitude on the ROC XEROX SID more clearly.Nevertheless; despite excellent VMC conditions; crew uneasiness over the perceived low 1;200 FT leveling altitude should have been resolved prior to takeoff.
CE560 Captain reports not noticing the altitude assignment in the routing section of the XEROX3 departure from ROC. Departing Runway 4; 1;200 feet is used as the level off altitude until ATC points out that they should be climbing to 10;000 feet.