Originally Posted by Intruder
If "Climb via SID" is the clearance, we set the highest "cleared to" altitude in the MCP, and verify all intermediate altitudes are in the CDU.
The clearance we receive in this particular instance is "Cleared via CPT5X departure, caution step climb…" and part of your read back has to be "caution step climb" otherwise they reiterate - so I understand the clearance limit to be to A5000, as that's indicated on the plate and the clearance cautions us about the step climb. If it was a clearance to A3000 only, no step climb caution would be required. Maybe I've misinterpreted, but under the conditions of the clearance I would think setting the highest cleared altitude, as you state, is correct.
Thanks for the input.