B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
We departed ABQ on the MNZNO RNAV SID. Several miles prior to YUGLU; which has [an at or below] 9;000 FT published restriction; ATC cleared us to climb to FL200. He did not use the 'climb via' verbiage. The clearance was [simply to] '...climb and maintain FL200.' The pilot flying removed the 9;000 FT restriction from the LEGS page.We were both; however; not sure if that's what ATC wanted so; after a few seconds waiting for the frequency to clear; I asked ATC if that clearance was unrestricted? He replied; 'Comply with all restrictions.' At this point; we were climbing through 9;000 FT and got to about 9;300 FT before leveling off at 9;000 FT. After discussing the situation with the PF; we both were under the impression that when ATC issues an amended altitude clearance on a SID and doesn't use the 'climb via' or other limiting verbiage that the SID's altitude restrictions are deleted.
There is confusion as to what ATC wants and what we should be doing with these RNAV departures. If ATC wanted us to comply with restrictions; why didn't they issue a 'climb via' clearance or simply state; 'Climb to FL200; comply with restrictions.' The Controller NEVER said anything like this. All he said was; 'Climb to FL200.' Unless I am wrong; that clearance relieves me of [intervening published] crossing restrictions. If we had not asked him if he wanted an unrestricted climb; we would have had an altitude deviation. We had; in fact; climbed to 9;300 FT so it might have happened anyway. One of us made a mistake; whether it is ATC or us is what I really want to know.
A B737-700 flight crew; cleared by a PDC to depart ABQ on the '...MNZNO departure; maintain 9;000 FT...' was re-cleared after takeoff to 'climb to FL200' by Departure Control. This clearance was given prior to YUGLO which is restricted to be crossed 'at or below 9;000 FT. Confusion ensued as the flight crew was uncertain whether departure's clearance relieved them from the restriction at YUGLO.