Narrative:

On the kennedy 9 departure procedure, the idlewild climb initial altitude was changed from 2000 ft to 3000 ft. For yrs, kennedy tower has used, and continues to use, 2000 ft as the initial altitude to meet airspace restrs and to avoid a loss of separation. Pilots continue to be issued 2000 ft as the initial altitude in their IFR clearance, and rightly so. However, as the pilot reviews the departure procedure, he or she sees 3000 ft published, which may lead the pilot to inadvertently use 3000 ft instead of the 2000 ft issued, in which case there is the risk of a conflict with nearby aircraft, including overflts. This situation may cause or contribute to accidents or incidents. Since 3000 ft is not used as an initial altitude, and its use could violate airspace restrs and cause a loss of separation between aircraft, corrective action must be taken to return the published idlewild climb altitude to 2000 ft. Callback conversation with jfk specialist revealed the following information: paperwork had already been effected through FAA channels and the kennedy SID altitude change from 3000 ft to 2000 ft would become effective at the next available publication charting date.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: JFK LCL CTLR CONCERNED WITH CONTINUOUS SID ALT CHANGE OF KENNEDY DEP FROM ITS PUBLISHED ALT OF 3000 FT TO 2000 FT TO ALL ACFT ASSIGNED THE IDLEWILD CLB.

Narrative: ON THE KENNEDY 9 DEP PROC, THE IDLEWILD CLB INITIAL ALT WAS CHANGED FROM 2000 FT TO 3000 FT. FOR YRS, KENNEDY TWR HAS USED, AND CONTINUES TO USE, 2000 FT AS THE INITIAL ALT TO MEET AIRSPACE RESTRS AND TO AVOID A LOSS OF SEPARATION. PLTS CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED 2000 FT AS THE INITIAL ALT IN THEIR IFR CLRNC, AND RIGHTLY SO. HOWEVER, AS THE PLT REVIEWS THE DEP PROC, HE OR SHE SEES 3000 FT PUBLISHED, WHICH MAY LEAD THE PLT TO INADVERTENTLY USE 3000 FT INSTEAD OF THE 2000 FT ISSUED, IN WHICH CASE THERE IS THE RISK OF A CONFLICT WITH NEARBY ACFT, INCLUDING OVERFLTS. THIS SIT MAY CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS. SINCE 3000 FT IS NOT USED AS AN INITIAL ALT, AND ITS USE COULD VIOLATE AIRSPACE RESTRS AND CAUSE A LOSS OF SEPARATION BTWN ACFT, CORRECTIVE ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO RETURN THE PUBLISHED IDLEWILD CLB ALT TO 2000 FT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH JFK SPECIALIST REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PAPERWORK HAD ALREADY BEEN EFFECTED THROUGH FAA CHANNELS AND THE KENNEDY SID ALT CHANGE FROM 3000 FT TO 2000 FT WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE PUB CHARTING DATE.

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.