Chapter 3 ix  Arrivals........................................................................................... 3-1 Introduction ................................................................................ 3-1 Navigation in the Arrival Environment.............................. 3-2 Descent Planning.................................................................. 3-3 Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Planning............................. 3-4 LNAV/VNAV Equipment ...................................................... 3-6 Descent Planning for High Performance Aircraft ...... 3-6 Descending From the En Route Altitude...................... 3-8 Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) ............................... 3-9 Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs) ......................3-10 RNAV STARs or STAR Transitions ....................................3-12 Interpreting the STAR ........................................................3-12 STAR Procedures .................................................................3-16 Preparing for the Arrival........................................................3-16 Reviewing the Approach..................................................3-16 Altitude ..................................................................................3-18 Airspeed ................................................................................3-20 Holding Patterns .................................................................3-21 Approach Clearance...........................................................3-22 Present Position Direct......................................................3-24 Radar Vectors to Final Approach Course ...................3-24 Special Airport Qualification ...............................................3-26 Cruise Clearance..................................................................2-43 Lowest Usable Flight Level ..............................................2-43 Operations in Other Countries.......................................2-44 Altitude Above Ground (QFE).........................................2-45 Barometric Pressure for Standard Altimeter Setting  (QNE)....................................................................................2-45 Barometric Pressure for Local Altimeter Setting  (QNH)...................................................................................2-45 En Route Reporting Procedures ........................................2-46 Non-Radar Position Reports............................................2-46 Flights in a Radar Environment......................................2-46 Position Report Items ........................................................2-46 Additional Reports..............................................................2-46 Communication Failure.........................................................2-47 ARTCC Radio Frequency Outage ...................................2-48 Climbing and Descending En Route ................................2-48 Aircraft Speed and Altitude.............................................2-49 En Route Holding Procedures.............................................2-51 ATC Holding Instructions .................................................2-51 Maximum Holding Speed................................................2-52 High Performance Holding .............................................2-52 En Route Safety Considerations.........................................2-52 Fuel State Awareness.........................................................2-52 Diversion Procedures.........................................................2-52 Tower En Route Control ....................................................2-10 Tower En Route Control Route Descriptions.............2-10 Airway and Route System ....................................................2-13 Airway/Route Depiction...................................................2-13 IFR En Route Low Altitude Chart ...................................2-14 IFR En Route High Altitude Chart .................................2-17 VHF Airways ..........................................................................2-18 Victor Airway Navigation Procedures ..........................2-18 LF/MF Airways......................................................................2-18 En Route Obstacle Clearance Areas..............................2-18 Primary and Secondary En Route Obstacle Clearance  Areas....................................................................................2-19 Changeover Points .............................................................2-20 Direct Route Flights............................................................2-21 Published RNAV Routes ....................................................2-23 Composition of Designators ...........................................2-23 Use of Designators in Communications .....................2-24 Random RNAV Routes .......................................................2-25 Off-Airway Routes...............................................................2-26 Off-Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude ................2-27 Monitoring of Navigation Facilities ..............................2-29 Navigational Gaps...............................................................2-29 NAVAID Accuracy Check...................................................2-29 VOR Accuracy .......................................................................2-29 VOT ...........................................................................................2-29 VOR Checkpoint Signs.......................................................2-30 Dual VOR Check ...................................................................2-31 Airborne VOR Check...........................................................2-31 NDB Accuracy Check..........................................................2-31 RNAV Accuracy Check .......................................................2-31 Waypoints ..................................................................................2-32 User-Defined Waypoints...................................................2-32 Floating Waypoints.............................................................2-32 Computer Navigation Performance .................................2-33 Required Navigation Performance ...................................2-34 RNP Levels .............................................................................2-35 Standard RNP Levels ..........................................................2-35 Application of Standard RNP Levels.............................2-35 IFR En Route Altitudes ...........................................................2-35 Minimum En Route Altitude (MEA) ..............................2-35 RNAV Minimum En Route Altitude ...............................2-35 Minimum Reception Altitude (MRA)............................2-35 Maximum Authorized Altitude (MAA).........................2-35 Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA)2-36 Minimum Turning Altitude (MTA) .................................2-38 Minimum Crossing Altitude (MCA)...............................2-40 Minimum IFR Altitude (MIA)............................................2-40 Minimum Vectoring Altitudes (MVA) ...........................2-41 IFR Cruising Altitude or Flight Level.............................2-42 Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RSVM).....2-43