Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs)

skyhigh Newcomer

For those that work at facilities using Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs). . .

When a slow/low-level airplane has filed for a STAR into an airport using a Transition route having a really high MEA such as FL180 (which is too high for a C172), can the pilot still be cleared to fly that portion of the STAR even though he/she is well below the published MEA for that particular segment?

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

technically u have to meet the MEA because it guarantees the radio, terrain, and navigational aid coverage required. the arrival MAY be built off a "high" navaid that provides a signal higher and wider than a "low" or "terminal" navaid. that's just a technicality. there are ways around it. as long as your meeting the MVA/MIA in the area where the arrival goes, then u could clear them via the fixes of the xxxxx1 arrival. provide for lost comm procedures if u know you'll lose radios with them.

is there not a preferential routing for props in your area? just remember u owe the IFR pilot appropriate navigational coverage and terrain/obstruction coverage. if their RNAV/GPS then clear them via the arrival and issue a hard altitude. then manually descend them along the route.

is it a RNAV arrival with vertical guidance that your talking about? or a classic STAR?

barty Trusted Member

Usually the solution is to clear an airplane via radials/courses/vectors that follow the STAR. In my experience as a pilot in many larger terminal areas there will be STARs that are more appropriate for use by aircraft that cannot meet the altitude and speed requirements of ones used as feeders into the primary airport.

If no such STAR exists, then filing direct to an airport, or navaid/fix that is an IAF for an instrument approach is appropriate. For instance, at Memphis Center, our LOA with Memphis Approach specifies any non-turbojet arrivals into satellite airports may be cleared direct to destination as no arrival procedure for non-turbojet aircraft exists in the terminal area here.

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

I'd say no. Just like you can't clear a pilot on an airway that has an 8000' MEA when he has filed for 4,000' He would have to either agree to the higher altitude, which in your case they cannot, or be given a different route. Like was said you can use the radials and direct to if you can guarantee his separation from terrain and reception for navigation.

skyhigh Newcomer

Thanks for the answers!

crazycam31 Rookie

I've heard the phraseology, "Fly the enroute radials of JXX" (any jet route.) You may be able to do that for the pilot, but assign a hard altitude above the MVA.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

i've used "cleared via the radials of J92" before. some wise guy filed J92 but then filed for 17,000 instead of the flight levels.

Matty13 Senior Member

Sure you can. 4-5-6

a. An aircraft may be cleared below the MEA but
not below the MOCA for the route segment being
flown if the altitude assigned is at least 300 feet above
the floor of controlled airspace and one of the
following conditions are met:
NOTE: Controllers
must be aware that in the event of radio
communications failure, a pilot will climb to the MEA for
the route segment being flown.
1. Nonradar procedures are used only within
22miles of a VOR, VORTAC, or TACAN.
2. Radar procedures are used only when an
operational advantage is realized and the following
actions are taken:
(a) Radar navigational guidance is provided
until the aircraft is within 22 miles of the NAVAID,
and
(b) Lost communications instructions are
issued.

b. An aircraft may be cleared to operate on jet
routes below the MEA (but not below the prescribed
minimum altitude for IFR operations) or above the
maximum authorized altitude if, in either case, radar
service is provided.