Unlike default ATC FSHud clears you for a STAR. Nice. (At least... I do think this is more realistic...?) I do wonder how this all works in real life: once you are cleared to fly a STAR by ATC are you also cleared to descent and keep constraints where needed or are you simply cleared to fly the procedure but do you still need to wait for ATC to tell you when to descent and where to? Afaik once you are cleared to fly for instance an ILS approach you may (and need to) descent whenever needed to properly fly that approach. Does this also apply to STARs or not?

The star is usually part of your file flight plan, so ATC knows how you are arriving. I believe that they usually just let you fly it as filed unless they need to do something else with you. They may take you off of the star, or just let you fly it as published. They may ask you to fly certain legs at different altitudes than published as well. I believe the terminology that they usually use in the clearance is "as filed". If you hear that during your decent, just follow the star as published. If you get a new altitude, or heading, or clearance to a different way point, then leave the star and follow their directions.

Edited July 6, 20223 yr by MDFlier

In my neck of woods (Europe) you will usually get a "descend via *STAR*" and the lateral clearance limit is the final fix of the procedure, not surprisingly the vertical clearance limit is bottom altitude of the procedure.

"Descend via STAR" means you must honor the vertical profile / speeds, however you may descend on your own discretion.

If procedure restrictions are waived, ATC will clear you to a certain altitude and append "cancel level restrictions" on the descent clearance. (Same with speed restrictions - very common in low density traffic)

Edited July 6, 20223 yr by SAS443

So, it's all in the wording when given a STAR. If they say, "cleared the freedom one arrival", you can expect to follow the route, but descend as directed. If they say "descend VIA the Freedom one", you will descend and meet all restrictions.

Rick

1 hour ago, tup61 said:

Unlike default ATC FSHud clears you for a STAR. Nice. (At least... I do think this is more realistic...?) I do wonder how this all works in real life: once you are cleared to fly a STAR by ATC are you also cleared to descent and keep constraints where needed or are you simply cleared to fly the procedure but do you still need to wait for ATC to tell you when to descent and where to? Afaik once you are cleared to fly for instance an ILS approach you may (and need to) descent whenever needed to properly fly that approach. Does this also apply to STARs or not?

This does actually depend a bit on the region you fly in, but in most cases you can only change altitude with explicit permission of the ATC. So you will first get a STAR assigned "expect Tunga Five Bravo arrival", but can only descend once they say "descent to FL100", or what also happens often is both together: "descend via Tunga Five Bravo [to FL100]". Then while doing this - in any scenario - you also have to keep constraints as in the charts. One reason for publishing STARs is that ATC does not have to tell everyone the same altitude constraints or speed constraints all over again, but can concentrate on critical situations or efficiency.

As for your second question: Yes, once you are cleared an approach, you can descent (e.g. via the glideslope) on your own, without further altitude instructions by the ATC. Before touchdown however you must have got the landing clearance by the Tower, or it's a mandatory go-around. So first approach clearance, than landing clearance.

Edited July 6, 20223 yr by Fiorentoni
spelling and context

Loads and loads of examples and explanations in the following document

https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2014/mar/nbaa-pilot-briefing-climb-via-descend-via-speed-adjustments-1.01-20140220.pdf

With regard to ICAO airspace, see

https://www.icao.int/airnavigation/sidstar/Documents/New SID n STAR Phraseologies Scenarios.pdf

Both are excellent sleep aids, BTW.