Definition
The phase of flight in which an aircraft follows published instrument procedures to leave the departure airport (a Standard Instrument Departure, or SID) and to transition into the arrival airport (a Standard Terminal Arrival, or STAR). In modern aircraft this navigation is typically flown using waypoints and procedures stored in the airborne navigation database, which the Flight Management System (FMS) sequences automatically once the procedure is loaded.
Plain English
It's the part of the flight where the aircraft is following a pre-designed route out of the departure airport, and later, a pre-designed route into the arrival airport. These routes are stored in the aircraft's navigation database so the pilot can load them by name rather than building them point by point.
Context Anchor
Seen when selecting or reviewing stored procedures in a flight management system or approved navigation unit before takeoff or before starting down toward the destination.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures precise following of ATC-cleared routes near airports, reducing workload and the chance of terrain or traffic conflicts.
Grounding Statement
This is the database-backed path that connects the airport environment to the main route of flight in both directions.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a general phrase meaning any navigation done while leaving or arriving. In this context, it means specific published departure and arrival route or procedure data stored in the aircraft’s navigation system.
Example Sentence 1
After receiving the clearance, the crew loaded the assigned SID into the FMS so that departure and arrival navigation would follow the published procedures from the database.
Example Sentence 2
Before descent the crew reviewed the arrival and arrival navigation routing to confirm the assigned STAR.