B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 140
Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
We were cleared from CLE via the AMRST4 Departure SID. During our briefing of the departure procedure; AMRST4; page 10-3A; we noted that the initial climb verbiage for our initial climb referenced 5;000 feet or assigned altitude.  We noted that the top altitude referenced 3;000 feet.  We set 3;000 feet in the Altitude window and briefed 3;000 feet as the top altitude on the initial climb. We discussed among ourselves how this was confusing; but it seemed that more and more; we are seeing the altitude depictions on SIDS that are presented in a manner that is sometimes difficult to understand.On the previous flight segment into CLE; we had reviewed the CLE NOTAMs.  We saw several; including three NOTAMs for instrument approach procedures and the AMRST4 NOTAM requiring RNAV with GPS.  Prior to departure from CLE; we reviewed the NOTAMs again.  In both of these reviews; the NOTAM on the AMRST4 that changed the top altitude to 5;000 feet was inadvertently overlooked. Prior to departure; we received our clearance via PDC.  The instructions were to 'Climb Via the SID;' with no other reference to altitude or departure frequency.After we departed; upon initial check-in with Departure Control; we stated we were climbing to 3;000 feet.  We were cleared higher and subsequently the Controller mentioned that there was a NOTAM that changed the top altitude on the SID to 5;000 feet.  After reviewing the NOTAMs again; we found that NOTAM.We overlooked a NOTAM that we should have seen. This was; however; an error of missing the NOTAM while looking rather than not looking at the NOTAMs. As always; a more thorough reading of the NOTAMs would have prevented this. We often place information on the cover sheet of the weather packet that sometimes will include pertinent information; runway length; for example. This NOTAM; on this departure SID is a NOTAM that would be a useful addition to the cover sheet on the weather packet for CLE departures. ATC will sometimes re-state the top altitude in the PDC; either for emphasis or by local policy.  It would be very helpful if the top altitude would be stated in the PDC.  This could be done in the main body of the PDC or as a remark as is often the case. This would be especially helpful if there is a NOTAM that lists a different altitude than the SID departure plate.
During the departure briefing of the AMRST Four Departure out of Cleveland; we misread the top altitude on the chart. It stated top altitude of 3;000 feet; but the text stated climb to 5;000 feet. We interpreted the top altitude as just that; so we briefed it as 3;000 feet. On departure; the Controller told us in the future we needed to climb to 5000' as it was listed in a NOTAM about the departure. Later on the ground; we re-read the NOTAMs and discovered it.
B737 flight crew reports being confused by the AMRST4 departure from CLE; with the top altitude on initial departure listed as 3;000 feet and 5;000 feet in different places. A NOTAM apparently cleared up this confusion but the crew did not notice it. ATC made the crew aware when they checked in climbing to 3;000 feet that 5;000 feet was the correct altitude.