A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 220; Flight Crew Total 17000; Flight Crew Type 4500
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
Departure was the RITAA One RNAV Departure off of Runway 15L at IAH. The PDC read- Climb via the RNAV with top altitude of 4;000 FT. We briefed that we would level off at 4;000 FT until cleared higher. The First Officer did the takeoff while I worked the radio. On initial contact with Departure Control I reported leaving 2;700 FT to maintain 4;000 FT on the RITAA One RNAV. Approaching leveling off at 4;000 FT we thought the Controller said; climb and maintain 16;000 FT; but later he informed us the clearance was; climb via the RITAA One maintain 16;000 FT. There is a 'at or below' crossing restriction of 4;000 FT on the SID at TTAPS intersection. Because of misunderstanding the clearance; we crossed the TTAPS fix above the 4;000 FT restriction. We did not conflict with any traffic. I should have listened more carefully and been better aware of the potential conflict because of the 'at or below' crossing on the RNAV SID.
A319 Captain reports misunderstanding an ATC clearance to climb via as a clearance to climb to 16;000 FT and exceeds the 'at or below' restriction at TTAPS on the RITAA 1 RNAV from IAH.