Definition
An ATC clearance instructing a pilot to descend from the current altitude to the bottom altitude of a published Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) procedure, complying with all published speed and crossing altitude restrictions along the way. The clearance authorizes the pilot to descend at their discretion within the constraints of the procedure, rather than waiting for individual step-down altitude clearances from the controller.
Plain English
ATC is telling you to start coming down by following the altitudes and speeds already printed on your arrival chart. You manage the descent yourself, but you must hit every altitude and speed restriction shown.
Context Anchor
Heard in instrument flying during arrival clearances, especially when approaching larger or busier airports with published arrival procedures.
Derivation
From 'descend,' meaning to go down, plus 'via,' Latin for 'by way of' or 'by the route of.' Together: descend by way of the published procedure.
Why Pilots Care
Proper compliance keeps the aircraft safely sequenced with other traffic, prevents altitude deviations, and positions the flight correctly for the approach.
Intuition Check
Do not hear “Descend Via” as simply “start descending.” It means descend while following the published procedure and meeting its listed altitude and speed restrictions.
Example Sentence 1
Center radioed, 'Cessna Three-Four-Yankee, descend via the BRUSR ONE arrival, landing south.'
Example Sentence 2
The crew began the descent via the published procedure while maintaining the assigned speed restriction.