AIM

8/15/19

5

−

4

−

2

Arrival Procedures

NOTE

−

In Example 2, the first clearance requires the pilot to
descend 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
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
altitude 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

−

I

n 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
continue 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

arrival, 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. PBN STAR.

1.

Public PBN STARs are normally designed

using RNAV 1, RNP 1, or A

−

RNP NavSpecs. These

procedures require system performance currently
met by GPS or DME/DME/IRU PBN systems that