AIM

4/3/14

5−4−1

Arrival Procedures

Section 4. Arrival Procedures

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4

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1. Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR)

Procedures

a.

A STAR is an ATC coded IFR arrival route

established for application to arriving IFR aircraft

destined for certain airports. STARs simplify clear-

ance delivery procedures, and also facilitate

transition between en route and instrument approach

procedures.

1.

STAR procedures may have mandatory

speeds and/or crossing altitudes published. Other

STARs may have planning information depicted to

inform pilots what clearances or restrictions to “ex-
pect

.” “Expect” altitudes/speeds are not considered

STAR procedures crossing restrictions unless verbal-

ly issued by ATC. Published speed restrictions are

independent of altitude restrictions and are mandat-

ory unless modified by ATC. Pilots should plan to

cross waypoints with a published speed restriction, at

the published speed, and should not exceed this speed

past the associated waypoint unless authorized by

ATC or a published note to do so.

NOTE

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The “expect” altitudes/speeds are published so that pilots
may have the information for planning purposes. These
altitudes/speeds must not be used in the event of lost
communications unless ATC has specifically advised the
pilot to expect these altitudes/speeds as part of a further
clearance.

REFERENCE

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14 CFR Section 91.185(c)(2)(iii).

2.

Pilots navigating on STAR procedures must

maintain last assigned altitude until receiving autho-

rization to descend so as to comply with all

published/issued restrictions. This authorization will

contain the phraseology “DESCEND VIA.”

(a)

Clearance to “descend via” authorizes

pilots to:

(1)

Descend at pilot’s discretion to meet

published restrictions and laterally navigate on a

STAR.

(2)

When cleared to a waypoint depicted on

a STAR, to descend from a previously assigned alti-

tude at pilot’s discretion to the altitude depicted at that

waypoint.

(3)

Once established on the depicted ar-

rival, to descend and to meet all published or assigned

altitude and/or speed restrictions.

NOTE

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1. When otherwise cleared along a route or procedure that
contains published speed restrictions, the pilot must com-
ply with those speed restrictions independent of any
descend via clearance.

2. ATC anticipates pilots will begin adjusting speed the
minimum distance necessary prior to a published speed re-
striction so as to cross the waypoint/fix at the published
speed. Once at the published speed, ATC expects pilots will
maintain the published speed until additional adjustment
is required to comply with further published or ATC as-
signed speed restrictions or as required to ensure
compliance with 14 CFR Section 91.117.

3. The “descend via” is used in conjunction with STARs to
reduce phraseology by not requiring the controller to re-
state the altitude at the next waypoint/fix to which the pilot
has been cleared.

4. Air traffic will assign an altitude to cross the waypoint/
fix, if no altitude is depicted at the waypoint/fix, for aircraft
on a direct routing to a STAR. Air traffic must ensure
obstacle clearance when issuing a “descend via” instruc-
tion to the pilot.

5. Minimum en route altitudes (MEA) are not considered
restrictions; however, pilots must remain above all MEAs,
unless receiving an ATC instruction to descend below the
MEA.

EXAMPLE

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1. Lateral/routing clearance only.

“Cleared Tyler One arrival.”

NOTE

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In Example 1, pilots are cleared to fly the lateral path of the
procedure. Compliance with any published speed restric-
tions is required. No descent is authorized.

2. Routing with assigned altitude.

“Cleared Tyler One arrival, descend and maintain

flight level two four zero.”

“Cleared Tyler One arrival, descend at pilot’s discre-

tion, maintain flight level two four zero.”

NOTE

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In Example 2, the first clearance requires the pilot to des-
cend to FL 240 as directed, comply with any published
speed restrictions, and maintain FL 240 until cleared for
further vertical navigation with a newly assigned altitude
or a“descend via” clearance. 
 
The second clearance authorizes the pilot to descend to