Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure; Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication
Due to windshear in the area; departures were delayed approximately 15 minutes. Rerouting was also done for weather avoidance. Our new departure included a speed restriction of 230 knots until reaching a specified fix (the departure and specifics will be identified in an update when that information is available from my flight bag). Initial altitude assigned was 4000 feet. This altitude complied with 2 fixes on the route that required aircraft to be at/below 4000 feet of Fix 1 and at/below 5000 feet at Fix 2. My MFD was selected at 40 miles to determine best routing for weather avoidance. After switching to Houston Departure we were given a climb to 16000 feet. 'Aircraft X climb and maintain One-Six Thousand; Climb via the SID.' I looked at the First Officer and noted: 'This is a bad climb that will get folks in trouble. People are going to get this wrong unintentionally.' Well; I GOT IT WRONG after knowing and briefing it. Upon crossing an initial fix; I looked at my MFD and thought I could go to 5000 feet which I did. Unfortunately I was too early and for a few minutes I was 1000 feet higher than I should have been. Seeing no traffic conflicts in the area and since I was nearing the 5000 foot fix; I elected to stay. Another aircraft was behind us and given the same instructions. That aircraft did not stop at 5000 feet and continued climbing until the controller queried the flight. The pilots responded that the instructions were very confusing. In my opinion; the instructions are not confusing; it is just a poor procedure that pilots are not used to. I suspect controllers may be placing bets to see who busts the altitudes.As noted above; I had some distractions pointing out the threats; weather avoidance and then getting a bad climb clearance. My recommendation is to modify the SID and have the controllers avoid issuing the climb until after the aircraft passes the first altitude restricted fix; preferring the climb after the second altitude restricted fix. If I can make this mistake; others will also.
CRJ900 Captain reported not complying with crossing restrictions published on a SID.