Large Transport
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure
Text below is a copy of the PDC clearance I received for a recent flight from FLL. Looking at the clearance it follows our filed route; and then on the next line it lists the Zappa 2 Departure; followed by a climb VIA SID. The normal departure for our filled route is the Thunder2. I discussed this with the First Officer and we agreed it would be worth a call to Clearance Delivery and ask for a full route clearance. The radio clearance was to fly the Thunder2 departure. They were unable to explain why the PDC gave us the Zappa2. Maybe the FAA is not really ready for this climb via stuff if they are going to give PDC clearances like this one.FLIGHT X FLL PDC Aircraft X XPNDR 8888 Type aircraft PXX00 280 KFLL THNDR2 THNDR LEV./. KDFW ZAPPA 2 DEPARTURE CLIMB VIA SID DEPARTURE CONTROL FREQUENCY l! CTC RAMP CTL 129.875 FOR PUSH.
Pilot reports of confusion with PDC clearance; contacts ATC and they are not able to answer the question he asks.