Narrative:

We were assigned a different runway while taxiing out than we had planned. In checking the new departure procedures we failed to notice the altitude hold down for runway 22 was less (2500') than runway 29 (5000'). I feel that this was due to the fine print used for this information at the bottom of the departure plate. On climb out we contacted departure control saying we were climbing to 5000'. The controller then cleared us to 5000' and later called our attention to the fact that we should have been climbing to 2500'. He also stated that this was a very common mistake that pilots make departing ewr. Since most airports use one common altitude for all departures, I feel that airports that have different altitudes for different runways should display this information more prominently rather than in fine print at the bottom of the departure plate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT ALT RESTRICTION DURING SID FROM EWR.

Narrative: WE WERE ASSIGNED A DIFFERENT RWY WHILE TAXIING OUT THAN WE HAD PLANNED. IN CHKING THE NEW DEP PROCS WE FAILED TO NOTICE THE ALT HOLD DOWN FOR RWY 22 WAS LESS (2500') THAN RWY 29 (5000'). I FEEL THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE FINE PRINT USED FOR THIS INFO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DEP PLATE. ON CLBOUT WE CONTACTED DEP CTL SAYING WE WERE CLBING TO 5000'. THE CTLR THEN CLRED US TO 5000' AND LATER CALLED OUR ATTN TO THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLBING TO 2500'. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON MISTAKE THAT PLTS MAKE DEPARTING EWR. SINCE MOST ARPTS USE ONE COMMON ALT FOR ALL DEPS, I FEEL THAT ARPTS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT ALTS FOR DIFFERENT RWYS SHOULD DISPLAY THIS INFO MORE PROMINENTLY RATHER THAN IN FINE PRINT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DEP PLATE.

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.