Hello all,Quick question, how does one CORRECTLY fly a STAR in the UK? I have noticed (also based on some of the other forum discussions) that STAR's in the UK terminate well short of the ILS. Once at the end of the STAR do you change to heading mode then arm the APR?Other countries STARs terminate at the ILS so it's just a case of using the LNAV and converting over to APR (clicking once on the VOR/LOC J41)Thanks

Hello all,Quick question, how does one CORRECTLY fly a STAR in the UK? I have noticed (also based on some of the other forum discussions) that STAR's in the UK terminate well short of the ILS. Once at the end of the STAR do you change to heading mode then arm the APR?Other countries STARs terminate at the ILS so it's just a case of using the LNAV and converting over to APR (clicking once on the VOR/LOC J41)Thanks

At major airports arrivals are vectored under radar control to the final approach. At some airports (eg Heathrow & Gatwick) there are published Initial Approach charts for use when radar vectoring isn't available. These give routes from the termination of the STAR to the FAP/FAF. At others, ATC will clear aircraft from a Terminal Holding Facility to the start of the Instrument Approach Proceddure.Details are given for each airport in AD 2.22 — FLIGHT PROCEDURES in the textual part of the AIP. Details are available here:http://www.nats-uk.e...&Itemid=13.html

http://www.nats-uk.e...&Itemid=13.html

Thank you for your response. So from the aircraft pilot stand point, would they switch from LNAV to HDG mode and direct to the instrument approach?

Thank you for your response. So from the aircraft pilot stand point, would they switch from LNAV to HDG mode and direct to the instrument approach?

I can't speak for the real world with any authority, but flying online you would likely start on a STAR in LNAV, then at some point the controller will start giving you headings to fly and you switch to HDG.When cleared for an approach and on an intercept heading - still in HDG - you would arm either LOC or APP.On a go-around you will typically be given vectors, so in HDG mode. Unless cleared to fly the published missed approach, in which case you would go to LNAV.

At Edinburgh, for example the STARS end at STIRA and TWEED. In the absence of radar vectorin:"Approach Procedures without Radar Controla. When inbound traffic is not being sequenced by Radar, aircraft will be cleared from the Terminal Holding Facility via EDN or UW NDB to carry out an Instrument Approach Procedure appropriate to the landing direction.b. When Runway 06 is in use, in order to expedite traffic, aircraft may be transferred from TWEED or STIRA holding pattern to UW NDB holding pattern prior to carrying out the Instrument Approach Procedure.c. When Runway 24 is in use, in order to expedite traffic, aircraft may be transferred from TWEED or STIRA holding pattern to EDN NDB holding pattern prior to carrying out the Instrument Approach Procedure.d. No visual approaches to Runway 06/24 are permitted for IFR aircraft between 2230 and 0630 (Local). All IFR aircraft are to carry out a published Instrument Approach Procedure under ATC control with the exception of aircraft in emergency. This allows the continued operation when the CVCR is in use and ILS approaches are not available."I suggest that how the aircraft gets from point A to oint B is a matter for the flight crew.

Hello all,Quick question, how does one CORRECTLY fly a STAR in the UK? I have noticed (also based on some of the other forum discussions) that STAR's in the UK terminate well short of the ILS. Once at the end of the STAR do you change to heading mode then arm the APR?Other countries STARs terminate at the ILS so it's just a case of using the LNAV and converting over to APR (clicking once on the VOR/LOC J41)Thanks

I assume you are using the FMC to create a flight plan. when you choose a star for the destination airport there are somtimes a transition listed as well as an ILS approach. selection of a transition should give the required approach to touch down. However using LNAV (and VNAV) depends on whether the airplane is approved for 'autoland' , take for instance the 737PIC, which is based on the 'super guppy' and is not cleared for autoland ( NG series are I think) therefore a change from LNAV VNAV is required, this is done by selecting the required approach references and speed and selecting the 'appr. on the autopilot. you should then see the fmc change control to the autopilot, selecting the 2nd ap will normally give control to the autothrottle.it is possible on the 737pic fmc to program a transition yourself by adding additional waypoints. it may be possible on the J41!Bob ps I'm sure Chock will jump in here and give us one of his long and wonderful answers.

Thank you all for your help.When flying the PMDG J41 in every other country it's simply a case of entering the STAR and the transition pressing the VOR/LOC button and arming APR. In the UK at my home airport EGCC it's a case of entering all of that and then using HDG to setup the approach, the STAR and trans don't get close enough to capture. I was wondering how it's done by real pilots, i believe (thought i might be wrong) that it was Chock, in another thread about STAR's that mentioned that the UK does it differently.

Most of the time, STARs in the UK are used to perform what is their primary purpose, i.e. have aeroplanes arrive in the airport's area of responsibility from well expected directions. This means they'll often be a long way from completing all the waypoints on the STAR before ATC will start vectoring them via radar to line them up for an approach, although there may be occasions where that will only start happening when they get near a FAF. At EGCC, you probably know most of them get turned over the Pennines then lined up over Stockport for runway 23.If there is a specific UK airport you want to know about, I'd recommend getting hold of the Aerodrome Booklet for that airport, since that will contain all the specifics relating to the approach charts for that airport. You can find old ones pretty cheap (since they get updated), but since that can be a bit hit and miss, you can buy them from here:http://www.afeonline.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=2135If you just want the STARS, you can find most of them for UK airports here (for free):http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=6&Itemid=13.htmlIf you want an Aerodrome booklet for EGCC, they actually sell old ones at the plane spotter's shop on the car park roof at EGCC by the way, for a fiver I seem to recall.If you really want to know exactly what UK ATC involves, I'd recommend checking the ATC simulation London Control out, which you can find here (and there is a free demo of it):http://www.londoncontrol.com/LC is an incredibly accurate simulation of UK air traffic control (and not just London). But since it is aimed at people who may never have flown an aeroplane (which is actually a requirement to be a controller in the UK) or even seen an ATC workstation, there are a number of really excellent tutorials and manuals for it which are worth reading even if you don't give a crap about playing an ATC simulation.Take it from me though, London Control is well worth buying, even if you don't think you'd be that into playing with an ATC simulation, as it is strangely addictive, very educational, and also very realistic too, because you can use voice control to operate it (which works brilliantly by the way, far better than any other ATC simulation). I honestly can't recommend London Control highly enough, it's a goddam masterpiece, one of the best flight-related simulations I've ever seen, and incidentally, it covers EGCC, so you will learn exactly how it is done there, and I know that's spot on, because EGCC is only three miles from my house, so I know it very well.Al

The following show traces that most aircraft arriving at Heathrow do so via the terminating points of STARS, which are Bovingdon, Lambourne, Biggin & Ockham clockwise from the upper left. Red are arrivals: green deparures.

Once again thank you all. I will be sure to check that simulation out.Thanks

If you want an Aerodrome booklet for EGCC, they actually sell old ones at the plane spotter's shop on the car park roof at EGCC by the way, for a fiver I seem to recall.Al

Hi Al.That spotter's shop on that car park roof disappeared a few years ago.It's now located at the Air View Park where the Trident,the Avro,etc are on display.

Silly me, course it is, was having a brain fade moment LOLAl