Narrative:

Metroplex subject matter expert submitting report on behalf of a D21 [controller] working east departure. This was his first session working 1E since the dtw/cle metroplex implementation. While observing the operation as a floor-walker; I overheard him; utilize the legit 7110.65 phraseology to 'climb via except maintain 17;000' upon initial radar identification off of dtw. I warned the controller to be vigilant about watching the corner where the RNAV SID procedure turns from the southeast to the southwest and are procedurally separated from RNAV stars so long as the departure complies with an at/below 7;000-ft crossing restricting at lazyi that coincides with the STAR traffic descending via to a bottom altitude of 8;000-ft on the downwind. Many pilots who are initially assigned a top altitude of 7;000-ft by dtw clearance delivery and subsequently instructed to 'climb via except maintain 17;000' by the radar controller seem to disregard and not comply with the at/below restriction at lazyi. This particular pilot read back the revised climb via clearance and was subsequently observed climbing above 9;000-ft as they crossed lazyi. Air carrier flight crews do not seem to understand how to comply with a 'climb via' clearance. It appears they read it back correctly but treat it as an arbitrary 'climb and maintain' clearance; disregarding all subsequent altitude restrictions on the RNAV SID. As much as we want the pilot community to learn how to comply with the phraseology correctly; in the interim; we are advising radar controllers to avoid utilizing the 'climb via except maintain' phraseology and instead utilize standard 'climb and maintain' phraseology once clear of traffic conflicts. This option is safer but if we universally decide to avoid using the 'climb via' phraseology; the flight crews will never learn either. An education piece needs to be forced out to the airline pilot workforce at large.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: D21 Subject Matter Expert training ATC personnel in the facility reported pilots often miss altitude restrictions when issued 'climb via' clearances.

Narrative: METROPLEX Subject Matter Expert submitting report on behalf of a D21 [controller] working East Departure. This was his first session working 1E since the DTW/CLE Metroplex implementation. While observing the operation as a floor-walker; I overheard him; utilize the legit 7110.65 phraseology to 'climb via except maintain 17;000' upon initial radar identification off of DTW. I warned the controller to be vigilant about watching the corner where the RNAV SID procedure turns from the southeast to the southwest and are procedurally separated from RNAV STARs so long as the departure complies with an at/below 7;000-ft crossing restricting at LAZYI that coincides with the STAR traffic descending via to a bottom altitude of 8;000-ft on the downwind. Many pilots who are initially assigned a top altitude of 7;000-ft by DTW clearance delivery and subsequently instructed to 'climb via except maintain 17;000' by the Radar Controller seem to disregard and not comply with the at/below restriction at LAZYI. This particular pilot read back the revised climb via clearance and was subsequently observed climbing above 9;000-ft as they crossed LAZYI. Air carrier flight crews do not seem to understand how to comply with a 'Climb Via' clearance. It appears they read it back correctly but treat it as an arbitrary 'Climb and maintain' clearance; disregarding all subsequent altitude restrictions on the RNAV SID. As much as we want the pilot community to learn how to comply with the phraseology correctly; in the interim; we are advising radar controllers to avoid utilizing the 'climb via except maintain' phraseology and instead utilize standard 'climb and maintain' phraseology once clear of traffic conflicts. This option is safer but if we universally decide to avoid using the 'climb via' phraseology; the flight crews will never learn either. An education piece needs to be forced out to the airline pilot workforce at large.

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.