AIM 

6/17/21 

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

−

 

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

−

 

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 
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. 

Arrival Procedures 

5

−

4

−

2