Flight crew of medium large transport departing ord did not make crossing restriction of 8 miles, 40...

Attributes
ACN	120536
Time
Date	198908
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	120536
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

For the infrequent visitor to ord, the written description of altitude restrictions on the initial climb to 5000' is ambiguous and confusing. Specifically, the 4000/8 DME is almost disguised in the text. Runway assignment is unknown until you are actually taxiing. The flight was assigned initially 27L, and then changed to runway 22. The first officer and myself reviewed the departure plate while taxiing. We both noted the 3000' restriction as inappropriate, skipped over the next phase and note the final as 5000'. On climb out through 3500' questioned as to whether we can make the restriction. Hurry to 5000' and level off. Once again went through the departure narrative and again missed the phrase containing '4000/8.' the plate needs to be redone. The all-encompassing 4000/8 restriction appears to be almost disguised in the present narrative.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG DEPARTING ORD DID NOT MAKE CROSSING RESTRICTION OF 8 MILES, 4000'.

Narrative: FOR THE INFREQUENT VISITOR TO ORD, THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF ALT RESTRICTIONS ON THE INITIAL CLB TO 5000' IS AMBIGUOUS AND CONFUSING. SPECIFICALLY, THE 4000/8 DME IS ALMOST DISGUISED IN THE TEXT. RWY ASSIGNMENT IS UNKNOWN UNTIL YOU ARE ACTUALLY TAXIING. THE FLT WAS ASSIGNED INITIALLY 27L, AND THEN CHANGED TO RWY 22. THE F/O AND MYSELF REVIEWED THE DEP PLATE WHILE TAXIING. WE BOTH NOTED THE 3000' RESTRICTION AS INAPPROPRIATE, SKIPPED OVER THE NEXT PHASE AND NOTE THE FINAL AS 5000'. ON CLBOUT THROUGH 3500' QUESTIONED AS TO WHETHER WE CAN MAKE THE RESTRICTION. HURRY TO 5000' AND LEVEL OFF. ONCE AGAIN WENT THROUGH THE DEP NARRATIVE AND AGAIN MISSED THE PHRASE CONTAINING '4000/8.' THE PLATE NEEDS TO BE REDONE. THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING 4000/8 RESTRICTION APPEARS TO BE ALMOST DISGUISED IN THE PRESENT NARRATIVE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Flight crew of medium large transport departing ord did not make crossing restriction of 8 miles, 4000'.