This glossary is written for virtual airline and flight simulation use within Virtual Air Canada Airline. It is not intended as a real-world aviation reference.
STAR
Standard Terminal Arrival Route
A STAR is a published instrument procedure that transitions an aircraft from the en-route airspace structure to the initial approach fix (IAF) or a position from which an instrument approach can be commenced. Like a SID on departure, a STAR provides standardised routing, altitude restrictions, and speed constraints that allow ATC to manage the flow of arriving traffic efficiently. STARs are encoded in navigation databases and depicted on instrument procedure charts, and they typically begin at a fix on an airway and route the aircraft through a series of waypoints to a point near the destination airport.
STARs often include crossing restrictions that sequence arriving aircraft into a manageable flow for the approach controller. Speed restrictions - such as 250 knots below 10,000 feet or specific crossing speeds at named fixes - are embedded in many STARs and must be complied with unless ATC issues a specific amendment. Some STARs end at the runway threshold via an RNAV approach, while others terminate at a fix where radar vectors or a published instrument approach procedure takes over. In busy terminal environments, ATC may assign a STAR and then issue radar vectors to the final approach course, effectively shortcutting part of the published procedure.