Help Understanding STARS

[william1953]

I don't usually use STARS for arrivals but am thinking about it and have a few questions. What do you do after reaching the end of a STAR or the last waypoint/fix? How do you transition from that point to the airport and or runway. I've looked at some STARS for certain Airports and the ILS approach plates and see no connection to how you tie the two together.

William

[jeroen79]

Usually the approach procedure will start where the STAR ends.
Do you have an example with STAR and IAP charts?

[william1953]

Well let's see...The GMSTR and DDENA Stars for KCHS don't even show the Airport unless they are meant to be used with another STAR.

The AMYLU ONE Arrival does show KCHS/Charleston INT/AFB but I'm wondering where you get off and how would you get there? I don't know where an ILS approach would start. Doesn't show any DME that I noticed.

[MSYAIRTRAN]

Alot of time in real life ATC will clear you direct to a STAR but began the vector to final without hitting the STAR BUt on Departure if the SID is within 30 miles of the airport you have to hit it. A lot of times when I fly from IAH to MOB I have a SJI STAR its about 6.4 nm from the end of rwy 14. Alot of times I get vectored close if im clear to land on 14. But if im cleared to 32 there is no STAR there to hit.

[ReggieF5421]

Many STARS in the United States only direct you to the terminal area where the airport is located. Many STARS serve several airports in then same region. Those STARS are setup so that the ATC will vector traffic from the end of the STAR - or the point ATC wants the arriving aircraft to exit the STAR to the approach for the runway.

From the approach plates

GMSTR ONE "Expect approach clearance"

DDENA ONE "Expect approach clearance"

AMYLU ONE "Expect Rwy assignment from Charleston Approach Control upon initial contact"

A pilot flying into KCHS will know from the charts where the end points of the STAR are located in relation to the initial points of the approach for each runway. He/She will know which direction to fly from the end of the STAR to the start of the approach for the assigned runway. But ATC will also be following the plane and issue courses to fly to reach the approach.

FS makes it very easy for us to skip such vital planning steps which real world pilots take for every flight.

[william1953]

Yea I did see where it mentioned ATC... I was kind of looking for more detail like in an ILS approach but if ATC is involved then I guess I'll need to follow them if I manually put the STAR in. Thanks for taking a look at the charts.

[william1953]

Thanks!

[NikeHerk67]

Many STARS in the United States only direct you to the terminal area where the airport is located. Many STARS serve several airports in then same region. Those STARS are setup so that the ATC will vector traffic from the end of the STAR - or the point ATC wants the arriving aircraft to exit the STAR to the approach for the runway.

From the approach plates

GMSTR ONE "Expect approach clearance"

DDENA ONE "Expect approach clearance"

AMYLU ONE "Expect Rwy assignment from Charleston Approach Control upon initial contact"

A pilot flying into KCHS will know from the charts where the end points of the STAR are located in relation to the initial points of the approach for each runway. He/She will know which direction to fly from the end of the STAR to the start of the approach for the assigned runway. But ATC will also be following the plane and issue courses to fly to reach the approach.

FS makes it very easy for us to skip such vital planning steps which real world pilots take for every flight.

Just as a couple of thoughts to add to what Reggie and MSYAIRTRAN have said.

Departure/Arrival ATC will be take over from those points in the real world. Their RADAR screens have a 40nm radius. Anything outside that is controlled by the various centers located throughout the world... the US in this case.

Stars not only help the pilots keep out of harms way... from restricted airspace, mountains, terraine objects, etc, it helps the controllers by knowing just where you, and all other aircraft, are going to arrive on the screen so they can take over and, work you, (vector you) as they say.

Unfortunetly, MS ATC starts vectoring you at about 70nm from the arrival airport that you have set in your plan, which usually prevents you from flying the star anyway. You can work around that, in the default FS ATC, by not replying when center hands you over to Arrival. Acknowledge, but don't transmit the next call to arrival. Just continue to fly the STAR then, once YOU're ready to be vectored, contact ATC at that time...no harm no fowl in FS ATC.

I've used the add-on Radar Contact for years. It let's you fly your flight plan as you have it set up and doesn't start vectoring you until you're inside the terminal space of 40nm. That's because one of the guys who set it up in the first place was an ATC for years and knows exactly how the system is supposed to work. It's about as real as it can get unless you're flying on line and using VATSIM controlers.

[mgh]

Many UK airports have separate Initial Approach Procedures (without radar control) Charts to link the holds at the end of STARS to the Instrument Approach Charts.

How would aircraft land if radar control isn't available?

[william1953]

Thanks alot Herk...very helpful.

William