Reference Books

• Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge(FAA-H-8083-25B). (2016). Oklahoma City, OK: United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman Testing Standards Branch.
• Instrument Flying Handbook faa-h-8083-15B. (2012). Oklahoma City, OK: United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman Testing Standards Branch.
• Instrument Pilot Syllabus (10001785-003). (2015). Englewood, CO: Jeppesen.

Reference Multimedia

• IFR Enroute Aeronautical Charts and Planning. (2019, March 08). Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/ifr/
• IFR Enroute Aeronautical Charts and Planning. (2019, March 08). Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/ifr/
• Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor: Making the Most Out of Your Flying Career. (2015, October 22). Retrieved from http://adventureflight.ph/becoming-a-certified-flight-instructor-making-the-most-out-of-your-flying-career/

Arrival Charts

• Planning your approach is critical for the successful completion of your flight.

• You will also be better prepared to deal with any problems that might arise during arrival.  

Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR)

• Simplify clearance delivery
• Connect the enroute with an instrument approach procedure.
• Find STARs at the front of the Terminal Procedures Publications (TPPs).
• Starts at a Navaid or intersection where the transitions to the arrival converge

Interpreting a STAR

• Usually named for the navaid or fix where its related transitions converge, and the procedure begins.
   
• Just like Departure Procedures, it also includes a number when a significant change is made.
• Example: Fytte six arrival is revised, it becomes Fytte Seven arrival.

Example

You can identify the beginning of the arrival where the thicker line begins. 

RNAV STAR

• "RNAV" is included in the RNAV STAR arrival and requires specific equipment and performance standards.
• Must meet RNAV 1 standards.
• The RNAV arrival course ends in a fly-over waypoint where the pilot must fly the published heading or comply with radar vectors.

• Depicted waypoint is not enclosed in a circle.

RNAV FLY-BY Waypoint

• GPS displays will show the turn and navigation indications not to overshoot the next flight segment.

Routing

Procedure Name and Type

Waypoints

Equipment    Requirements

Fly-by Waypoint

• Depicted waypoint is enclosed in a circle.

RNAV FLY-OVER Waypoint

• Navigation indications will not provide guidance for a turn until you have pass over the waypoint.

• It can be followed either by intecepting the next flight segment or fly direct to the next waypoint

Routing

Procedure Name and Type

Waypoints

Equipment    Requirements

Fly-over Waypoint

Arrival Procedures

• Standard Terminal Arrival Procedures transition the aircraft from the enroute to the instrument approach.

• The objective is to provide pilots with an understanding of ATC arrival procedures and pilot responsibilities related to the transition between the en route and approach phases of flight. This chapter emphasizes standard terminal arrival routes (STARs).

Preparing for the Arrival

• To accept a STAR you must have a chart with at least a textual description.

• If you don't want to have a STAR, specify "No STAR" in the remarks section of your flight plan.

• The restrictions are not part of your clearance until ATC includes them verbally.

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ATC can assign:

Descend Via Clearance

• A clearance such as “Descend via HADLY ONE arrival”

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• The controller expects the pilot to use the equipment for both lateral guidance and altitude restrictions, as published on the chart.

• Pilots might also be given direct routing to intercept a STAR and then use it for both lateral guidance and altitude restrictions. For example, “Proceed direct MAHEM, descend via the MAHEM TWO arrival.”

When ATC issues a "Clear To"

• A clearance such as “cleared HADLY ONE arrival, descend and maintain FL240.”
   
• Clears the pilot to descend only to the assigned altitude, and they should maintain that altitude until cleared for further descent.

Briefing the STAR Procedure

• The purpose of briefing a star is to minimize the workload once you start executing the arrival

• Reviewing and briefing the arrival helps with expecting what to come next especially when flying into an unfamiliar airport.

Flying the Arrival

• When flying a STAR, comply with several altitudes, headings and even speed restrictions.

• Expect holding patterns or radar vectors assigned by ATC.

ATC can instruct to fly the STAR.

"N224MA clear for the BRDGE Nine Arrival, La Belle transition. Maintain 5,000 ft, expect ILS Runway 19L"

Airspeed

• The pilot is expected to meet the speed restrictions published in the arrival chart, regardless of the clearance that ATC issues to the pilot. 

• Pilots still need to comply with the maximum speeds specified in §91.117
  
  
   
• ATC can assign a speed adjustment that could exceed those prescribed in §91.117 when operating in Class C or D airspace at to below 2,500 ft AGL within 4 nm of the primary airport,

Descend Via Clearance

• The controller expects the pilot to use the equipment for both lateral guidance and altitude restrictions, as published on the chart.

• Pilots might also be given direct routing to intercept a STAR and then use it for both lateral guidance and altitude restrictions. For example, “Proceed direct PALMZ, descend via the PALMZ TWO arrival.”

PALMZ.PALMZ2

ARTCC cannot assign a landing runway, but may issue the runway transition with a descend via clearance.

• If cleared to descend via the STAR, you still need to comply with the restriction of altitude and speed.

Vertical Navigation Planning

• Some STARS charts will provide Vertical Navigation Planning Information to help save fuel and time flying at lower altitudes.

• Allow pilots to plan the power and configuration settings for high-performance aircraft.

Calculating the Rate of Descent

Where to begin the descent?

500 Ft/min, how far should you begin the descent?

Use the following formula:

Distance = Altitude to Descend ÷ Rate of descent (You choose) X Groundspeed ÷ 60

Example:

Distance = 7,000 Ft ÷ 500Ft/Min X 150 Kts ÷ 60

Distance = Start at 35 Nautical Miles before.

You can also use the following Rules of thumb to meet a 3° degree descent:

Distance to start the descend = Altitude to lose ÷ 300 ÷

Feet per minute 3° degree descent = Groundspeed x 5 (or) Groundspeed  x 10 ÷ 2