Originally Posted by
medflyer
A recent scenario: on the ground in LAX we were given the LADYJ SID (that has a top altitude of 8000’) with the amended stipulation “climb via the SID except maintain 5000’”. No problem.
On departure we were switched to SOCAL departure who acknowledged our check on and said “climb via the SID”. I was expecting to hear an altitude along with the clearance otherwise I assume the 5000’ is still governing...the approaching mountains of Santa Monica were enough to get me to double check however.
The condescending tone of the controller telling to climb to 8000 VIA THE SID gave me the “argh should’ve known that” feeling, but it is still unnerving climbing without a clearly restated altitude when you know you are crossing the arrival paths of heavies on the arrival. I thought the altitude was usually restated in both Climb Via and Climb and Maintain clearances. Guess I learned something. Thoughts?
Unfortunately controllers(seems to be on both sides of the big pond to be the same) give you a clearance, sometimes change it , forget about it. For sure often they do NOT forward it to the next sector(or even the guy/gal sitting next to them). Over here in Europe we have MANY departures which require AT points(UK being one of the worst in this regard). Now, they clear you higher and IF you bother to ask as a proper aviator not once I heard that reply in annoyed tone - "climb NOW to....." as a confirmation.But hey, if you bust a level then you get that teacher tone reply like "you have been cleared STAR/SID AND profile") We pilots do NOT make the rules, we normally obey them.
I usually do the same as you do, I keep asking them(even assuming they ment climb NOW). They are only humans and do many mistakes(as we do but we have the advantage in having a backup on the flightdeck), sometimes they even admit it and say "thanks" if you ask.