AN LR55 CLBS ABOVE ITS ASSIGNED ALT OF 8000 FT DURING THE ROCKIES 3 DEP PROC.

Narrative

RECEIVED CLRNC AFTER ENG START FOR JAC. CLRNC INCLUDED 'MAINTAIN 8000 FT.' CONFUSION OCCURRED BECAUSE ASSIGNED DEP PROC WAS NOT REMOVED FROM BINDER. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING READBACK OF CLRNC; THE CAPT CALLED FOR PROPER DEP PROC PLATE. INSTEAD OF PUTTING INITIAL ALT; DEP FREQ AND SQUAWK IN THE RADIOS; THE FO RETRIEVED DEP PROC FROM BINDER AND HANDED IT TO THE CAPT. THE CAPT THEN CALLED FOR TAXI CHKLISTS; TAXIED; AND BRIEFED THE ROCKIES 3 DEP FROM THE PLATE WHICH INCLUDED 'MAINTAIN 10000 FT.' THE CAPT THEN SET 10000 FT IN ALT ALERTER. SIMULTANEOUSLY; THE FO RAN THE TAXI CHKLISTS QUICKLY IN ORDER TO BE READY FOR AN IMMEDIATE DEP. UPON ARR AT THE RWY; CLRNC FOR TKOF WAS GIVEN. WHILE CLBING OUT OF 7000 FT AND MANEUVERING TO AVOID 2 VFR ACFT; TWR HANDED US OFF TO DEN DEP CTL. FO CHKED IN AND RPTED; 'LEAVING 7000 FT FOR 10000 FT.' DEP CTL RESPONDED ;'ROGER.' WHILE CLBING THROUGH 8500 FT; ATC SAID; 'MAINTAIN 8000 FT.' FO RESPONDED; 'WE WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT' -- SINCE IT WAS SET IN THE ALT ALERTER. ATC RESPONDED; 'THEN MAINTAIN 9000 FT -- I DON'T KNOW WHO GAVE YOU THAT.' A FREQ CHANGE WAS QUICKLY GIVEN AND THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CAUSE: THE CAUSE OF THE ALTDEV WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FLC'S PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES 'INDIVIDUALLY;' RATHER THAN 'AS A CREW.' HAD THE CAPT AND FO REVIEWED THE CLRNC AND DEP PROC TOGETHER; WITHOUT PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE DEP; THE CONFUSION WOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED. FUTURE ACTIONS: FUTURE OPS WILL REQUIRE THE FLC TO CLARIFY AND INPUT CLRNC ALT; FREQ AND SQUAWK AS SOON AS IT IS RECEIVED; WITHOUT ALLOWING INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER COCKPIT DUTIES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 430110: IFR CLRNC WAS RECEIVED WITH 8000 FT INITIAL ALT. SID STATED 10000 FT OR ASSIGNED ALT. DURING CREW BRIEFING; 10000 FT WAS INSTALLED INTO ALT ALERTER. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN; WE WILL BRIEF THE CLRNC AS WELL AS THE SID PRIOR TO DEP. INITIAL CALLS TO CTR SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED TO ASSURE EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE.