Narrative:

We received our clearance pre departure clearance; and it included flying the WLKKR3 RNAV departure from runway 16R at vny (climb via SID except maintain 4;000 feet). The captain and I reviewed the departure chart and it shows on the plan view that we are to cross the vny D1.5 'at or below 1;750 feet;' and then to 'climb to 1;303 feet.'this is; at best; confusing. The narrative is slightly better; except that the narrative doesn't include the detail about 'at or below 1;750 feet.' note also that the 'at or below 1;750 feet' restriction was not in the FMS. And neither the plan nor the narrative makes it clear when you are to climb above 1;303 feet.we contacted clearance delivery by radio to ask what it was that we were expected to do. We were told that the 'at or below 1;750 feet' was a limitation; but the 1;303 feet was there to prevent airplanes from running into terrain. So we were to comply with the 'at or below 1;750' at 1.5 DME; and then climb to 4;000 feet'.change the chart to clarify that the 'climb to 1;303 feet' only pertains to the minimum altitude before making the turn to pprry (which isn't much of a turn at all); rather than appearing to be a limitation on how high you can fly. Also; the presence of the shaded circle adds to the confusion; because its purpose isn't apparent. If the shaded circle were not there; it might have been more apparent that the 1.5 DME from vny VOR was essentially at the departure end of runway 16R.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL-350 pilot reports confusion regarding the initial climb segment on the RNAV SID chart and climb restriction was not in aircraft database.

Narrative: We received our clearance PDC; and it included flying the WLKKR3 RNAV departure from Runway 16R at VNY (Climb via SID except maintain 4;000 feet). The Captain and I reviewed the departure chart and it shows on the plan view that we are to cross the VNY D1.5 'At or below 1;750 feet;' and then to 'Climb to 1;303 feet.'This is; at best; confusing. The narrative is slightly better; except that the narrative doesn't include the detail about 'at or below 1;750 feet.' NOTE ALSO THAT THE 'AT OR BELOW 1;750 feet' RESTRICTION WAS NOT IN THE FMS. And neither the plan nor the narrative makes it clear when you are to climb above 1;303 feet.We contacted Clearance Delivery by radio to ask what it was that we were expected to do. We were told that the 'at or below 1;750 feet' was a limitation; but the 1;303 feet was there to prevent airplanes from running into terrain. So we were to comply with the 'at or below 1;750' at 1.5 DME; and then climb to 4;000 feet'.Change the chart to clarify that the 'Climb to 1;303 feet' only pertains to the minimum altitude before making the turn to PPRRY (which isn't much of a turn at all); rather than appearing to be a limitation on how high you can fly. Also; the presence of the shaded circle adds to the confusion; because its purpose isn't apparent. If the shaded circle were not there; it might have been more apparent that the 1.5 DME from VNY VOR was essentially at the departure end of Runway 16R.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.