AIM

4/3/14

5−4−2

Arrival Procedures

FL 240 at his discretion, to comply with any published
speed restrictions, and then maintain FL 240 until issued
further instructions.

3. Lateral/routing and vertical navigation clearance.

“Descend via the Eagul Five arrival.”
“Descend via the Eagul Five arrival, except, cross

Vnnom at or above one two thousand.”

NOTE

−

In Example 3, the first clearance authorized the aircraft to
descend at pilot’s discretion on the Eagul Five arrival; the
pilot must descend so as to comply with all published alti-
tude and speed restrictions. 
 
The second clearance authorizes the same, but requires the
pilot to descend so as to cross at Vnnom at or above 12,000.

4. Lateral/routing and vertical navigation clearance
when assigning altitude not published on procedure.

“Descend via the Eagul Five arrival, except after

Geeno, maintain one zero thousand.”

“Descend via the Eagul Five arrival, except cross

Geeno at one one thousand then maintain seven thou-
sand.”

NOTE

−

In Example 4, the first clearance authorized the aircraft to
track laterally on the Eagul Five Arrival and to descend at
pilot’s discretion so as to comply with all altitude and speed
restrictions until reaching Geeno and then maintain
10,000. Upon reaching 10,000, aircraft should maintain
10,000 until cleared by ATC to continue to descend. 
 
The second clearance requires the same, except the aircraft
must cross Geeno at 11,000 and is then authorized to con-
tinue descent to and maintain 7,000.

5. Direct routing to intercept a STAR and vertical navi-
gation clearance.

“Proceed direct Leoni, descend via the Leoni One ar-

rival.”

“Proceed direct Denis, cross Denis at or above flight

level two zero zero, then descend via the Mmell One ar-
rival.”

NOTE

−

In Example 5, in the first clearance an altitude is published
at Leoni; the aircraft proceeds to Leoni, crosses Leoni at
the published altitude and then descends via the arrival. If
a speed restrictions is published at Leoni, the aircraft will
slow to comply with the published speed.
 
In the second clearance, there is no altitude published at
Denis; the aircraft must cross Denis at or above FL200,
and then descends via the arrival.

(b)

Pilots cleared for vertical navigation

using the phraseology “descend via” must inform

ATC upon initial contact with a new frequency, of the

altitude leaving, “descending via (procedure name),”

the runway transition or landing direction if assigned,

and any assigned restrictions not published on the

procedure.

EXAMPLE

−

1. Delta 121 is cleared to descend via the Eagul Five ar-
rival, runway 26 transition: “Delta One Twenty One
leaving flight level one niner zero, descending via the
Eagul Five arrival runway two-six transition.”

2. Delta 121 is cleared to descend via the Eagul Five ar-
rival, but ATC has changed the bottom altitude to 12,000:
“Delta One Twenty One leaving flight level one niner zero
for one two thousand, descending via the Eagul Five ar-
rival, runway two-six transition.”

3. (JetBlue 602 is cleared to descend via the Ivane Two ar-
rival, landing south): “JetBlue six zero two leaving flight
level two one zero descending via the Ivane Two arrival
landing south.”

b.

Pilots of IFR aircraft destined to locations for

which STARs have been published may be issued a

clearance containing a STAR whenever ATC deems

it appropriate.

c.

Use of STARs requires pilot possession of at

least the approved chart. RNAV STARs must be

retrievable by the procedure name from the aircraft

database and conform to charted procedure. As with

any ATC clearance or portion thereof, it is the

responsibility of each pilot to accept or refuse an

issued STAR. Pilots should notify ATC if they do not

wish to use a STAR by placing “NO STAR” in the

remarks section of the flight plan or by the less

desirable method of verbally stating the same to ATC.

d.

STAR charts are published in the Terminal

Procedures Publications (TPP) and are available on

subscription from the National Aeronautical

Charting Office.

e. RNAV STAR.

1.

All public RNAV STARs are RNAV1. These

procedures require system performance currently

met by GPS or DME/DME/IRU RNAV systems that

satisfy the criteria discussed in AC 90−100A, U.S.

Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV)

Operations. RNAV1 procedures must maintain a total

system error of not more than 1 NM for 95% of the

total flight time.

2.

For procedures requiring GPS, if the

navigation system does not automatically alert the