Narrative:

For several yrs, we have been clearing aircraft to 11000 ft when the sids say 8000 ft. This is a recipe for disaster. At least 12 times a day pilots ask for clarification on this. The old 8000 ft was deemed as unsafe, so they raised it to 11000 ft. We're continually told it will be on the next set of pubs. But they're published every 56 days. This has been going on for nearly 4 yrs now. The last we heard, it was 'put on the back burner.' this is unsafe and unsatisfactory! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised the tower is questioned hourly about the SID altitude assignment, whether it cancels the 8000 ft restr or not. The controller stated that the salt lake 5 and the jazz 1 sids are the most frequently assigned. Aircraft assigned the jazz 1 SID, departing to the north 'may' be assigned 8000 ft, but departing to the south requires altitude assignment of 11000 ft, due to high terrain east and south of the airport. Pilots frequently question local and ground control if the 11000 ft assignment cancels the 7.5 DME 8000 ft restr when departing to the north -- and it does. The reporter claims that pilot questions and controller responses add to frequency congestion and the possibility of further confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLC CTLR CONCERNED WITH RECURRING WORKLOAD TO REVISE SID ALT TO 11000 FT WHEN ISSUING DEP CLRNCS, WHICH DIFFERS FROM THE PUBLISHED SID ALT OF 8000 FT.

Narrative: FOR SEVERAL YRS, WE HAVE BEEN CLRING ACFT TO 11000 FT WHEN THE SIDS SAY 8000 FT. THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. AT LEAST 12 TIMES A DAY PLTS ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON THIS. THE OLD 8000 FT WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE, SO THEY RAISED IT TO 11000 FT. WE'RE CONTINUALLY TOLD IT WILL BE ON THE NEXT SET OF PUBS. BUT THEY'RE PUBLISHED EVERY 56 DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR NEARLY 4 YRS NOW. THE LAST WE HEARD, IT WAS 'PUT ON THE BACK BURNER.' THIS IS UNSAFE AND UNSATISFACTORY! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED THE TWR IS QUESTIONED HRLY ABOUT THE SID ALT ASSIGNMENT, WHETHER IT CANCELS THE 8000 FT RESTR OR NOT. THE CTLR STATED THAT THE SALT LAKE 5 AND THE JAZZ 1 SIDS ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASSIGNED. ACFT ASSIGNED THE JAZZ 1 SID, DEPARTING TO THE N 'MAY' BE ASSIGNED 8000 FT, BUT DEPARTING TO THE S REQUIRES ALT ASSIGNMENT OF 11000 FT, DUE TO HIGH TERRAIN E AND S OF THE ARPT. PLTS FREQUENTLY QUESTION LCL AND GND CTL IF THE 11000 FT ASSIGNMENT CANCELS THE 7.5 DME 8000 FT RESTR WHEN DEPARTING TO THE N -- AND IT DOES. THE RPTR CLAIMS THAT PLT QUESTIONS AND CTLR RESPONSES ADD TO FREQ CONGESTION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER CONFUSION.

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.