STAR
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | Standard terminal arrival route |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
STAR stands for Standard terminal arrival route, an aviation abbreviation.
Published IFR arrival procedure linking the en-route airways to an airport's approach phase, with defined waypoints and altitude and speed restrictions. STARs reduce radio workload, and optimized versions let jets descend at idle power to save fuel.
Example: Southwest 2210, descend via the STAR, landing south, Atlanta altimeter 30.02.
Usage notes
ICAO calls it a standard instrument arrival; the FAA name is standard terminal arrival, but both use the same initials. Since about 2010 many US arrivals have been redesigned under the FAA's NextGen program as optimized profile descents, cutting fuel burn and noise. "Descend via" clearances let pilots follow the published restrictions without step-by-step instructions.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- RVSM – Reduced vertical separation minimum
- SEL – Single-engine land
- SIC – Second in command
- SID – Standard instrument departure
- SIGMET – Significant meteorological information
- STA – Scheduled time of arrival
- STD – Scheduled time of departure
- STOL – Short takeoff and landing
- SVFR – Special visual flight rules
- TA – Traffic advisory
- TAF – Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
- TAS – True airspeed