Challenger 300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Chart Or Publication
[We were] cleared for the Fairground Visual Runway 30L. We were at 5;000; flying pilot started to descend prior to the 170 [radial from] SJC. At this point I said 'why are you descending?' He said 'We were cleared for the visual.' I then replied; '170 [radial from] SJC at 5;000.' He stopped the descent and climbed back to 5;000. NORCAL then asked if we are familiar with the Fairground Visual approach. I replied affirmative and at this point we were back at 5;000. We did not descend more then 200 FT. Flying pilot then told me that prior to the 170 SJC radial on the chart it says RECOMMENDED 5;000. Then in small print at the 170 SJC radial it says MANDATORY 5;000. The chart is printed with confusion. They need to remove the RECOMMENDED 5;000 and make it say MANDATORY prior to the 170 radial.
A CL300 Captain cleared for the SJC Fairground Visual Runway 30L was confused about the descent clearance because the Chart stated RECOMMENDED 5;000 FT prior to the MANDATORY 5;000 FT SJC 170 constraint and so he began the descent early.