ATC confusion regarding SID requirement.

Attributes
ACN	99960
Time
Date	198812
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	99960
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 4400
ASRS Report	99959
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Departed mdw en route to lga via the canal III departure. As per the SID, we began a climb from 2000 to 3000' at the 6 DME fix, after advising the controling facility that we were leaving 2000 for 3000'. At this time the tower advised us to contact departure. Upon initial call up to the departure controller at 2300' we were turned to a heading of 050 degrees and told to maintain 3000'. The controller then asked who told us to climb to 3000'. We responded that 'the SID required the climb,' and that 'we reported our climb to the tower,' at which time he sent us over to departure. We were then assigned a heading of 090 degrees and climbed to 14000'. Between 050 and 090 degrees there was mention of an aircraft at 3000', however no mention of a conflict was advised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC CONFUSION REGARDING SID REQUIREMENT.

Narrative: DEPARTED MDW ENRTE TO LGA VIA THE CANAL III DEP. AS PER THE SID, WE BEGAN A CLB FROM 2000 TO 3000' AT THE 6 DME FIX, AFTER ADVISING THE CTLING FAC THAT WE WERE LEAVING 2000 FOR 3000'. AT THIS TIME THE TWR ADVISED US TO CONTACT DEP. UPON INITIAL CALL UP TO THE DEP CTLR AT 2300' WE WERE TURNED TO A HDG OF 050 DEGS AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3000'. THE CTLR THEN ASKED WHO TOLD US TO CLB TO 3000'. WE RESPONDED THAT 'THE SID REQUIRED THE CLB,' AND THAT 'WE RPTED OUR CLB TO THE TWR,' AT WHICH TIME HE SENT US OVER TO DEP. WE WERE THEN ASSIGNED A HDG OF 090 DEGS AND CLBED TO 14000'. BTWN 050 AND 090 DEGS THERE WAS MENTION OF AN ACFT AT 3000', HOWEVER NO MENTION OF A CONFLICT WAS ADVISED.

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.