B737 departure from las was confused with SID restr versus ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	600682
Time
Date	200311
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : roprr
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : shead 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	600682
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We departed las runway 25R on the SID, SHEAD1.oal transition. We had been cleared to take off just as an airbus in front of us cleared the deck. Our initial clearance was to fly the SID, maintain 7000 ft. We leveled off at 7000 ft and were inbound to roppr looking into the sun trying to keep the airbus in sight. We were then given a climb to 8000 ft. We started our climb to 8000 ft and realized that ATC had said neither 'delete the restr,' nor 'comply with restr' simply climb to 8000 ft. We had not yet reached roppr with the 7000 ft restr so we were unsure as to the legality of what had happened. I believe we did the right thing, we were both busy keeping the airbus in sight in the sun and simply climbed as ordered. I place no blame on anyone I just want to ensure that next time it is more clear as to what is required of us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 DEP FROM LAS WAS CONFUSED WITH SID RESTR VERSUS ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED LAS RWY 25R ON THE SID, SHEAD1.OAL TRANSITION. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO TAKE OFF JUST AS AN AIRBUS IN FRONT OF US CLRED THE DECK. OUR INITIAL CLRNC WAS TO FLY THE SID, MAINTAIN 7000 FT. WE LEVELED OFF AT 7000 FT AND WERE INBOUND TO ROPPR LOOKING INTO THE SUN TRYING TO KEEP THE AIRBUS IN SIGHT. WE WERE THEN GIVEN A CLB TO 8000 FT. WE STARTED OUR CLB TO 8000 FT AND REALIZED THAT ATC HAD SAID NEITHER 'DELETE THE RESTR,' NOR 'COMPLY WITH RESTR' SIMPLY CLB TO 8000 FT. WE HAD NOT YET REACHED ROPPR WITH THE 7000 FT RESTR SO WE WERE UNSURE AS TO THE LEGALITY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I BELIEVE WE DID THE RIGHT THING, WE WERE BOTH BUSY KEEPING THE AIRBUS IN SIGHT IN THE SUN AND SIMPLY CLBED AS ORDERED. I PLACE NO BLAME ON ANYONE I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT NEXT TIME IT IS MORE CLR AS TO WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US.

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.