Narrative:

Normal altitude for the newark 4 SID runway 22 is 5000 ft. That is what we set. However, we did receive a pre-departure clearance (computer printout) that cleared us only to 2500 ft. Both the first officer and I glanced over the pre-departure clearance -- he (first officer) set in the transponder code -- but we both missed reading the restr altitude. While climbing through 3500 ft, the departure controller queried as to what altitude we were cleared to. I responded 5000 ft. He said it was supposed to be 2500 ft, but to continue climbing to 5000 ft and gave us a heading of 320 degrees, but was not told of any conflicting traffic. It was obvious that a supervisor got on the radio to talk to the next departure behind us and asked them what altitude they were cleared to. Radio calls were made 'passing 1200 ft and 1800 ft for 5000 ft.' was finally able talk again passing 3000 ft. Supplemental information from acn 233740: the pre-departure clearance should have a highlight next to nonstandard procedures such as asterisks to ensure this doesn't happen. Also, tower control should also remind the crew of clearance that have nonstandard procedures prior to takeoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG FEW THROUGH ITS PRE-DEP CLRNC ASSIGNED ALT WHILE FLYING TOWARDS THE ALT PUBLISHED IN THE NEWARK 4 SID.

Narrative: NORMAL ALT FOR THE NEWARK 4 SID RWY 22 IS 5000 FT. THAT IS WHAT WE SET. HOWEVER, WE DID RECEIVE A PRE-DEP CLRNC (COMPUTER PRINTOUT) THAT CLRED US ONLY TO 2500 FT. BOTH THE FO AND I GLANCED OVER THE PRE-DEP CLRNC -- HE (FO) SET IN THE XPONDER CODE -- BUT WE BOTH MISSED READING THE RESTR ALT. WHILE CLBING THROUGH 3500 FT, THE DEP CTLR QUERIED AS TO WHAT ALT WE WERE CLRED TO. I RESPONDED 5000 FT. HE SAID IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 2500 FT, BUT TO CONTINUE CLBING TO 5000 FT AND GAVE US A HDG OF 320 DEGS, BUT WAS NOT TOLD OF ANY CONFLICTING TFC. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT A SUPVR GOT ON THE RADIO TO TALK TO THE NEXT DEP BEHIND US AND ASKED THEM WHAT ALT THEY WERE CLRED TO. RADIO CALLS WERE MADE 'PASSING 1200 FT AND 1800 FT FOR 5000 FT.' WAS FINALLY ABLE TALK AGAIN PASSING 3000 FT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 233740: THE PRE-DEP CLRNC SHOULD HAVE A HIGHLIGHT NEXT TO NONSTANDARD PROCS SUCH AS ASTERISKS TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. ALSO, TWR CTL SHOULD ALSO REMIND THE CREW OF CLRNC THAT HAVE NONSTANDARD PROCS PRIOR TO TKOF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.