Definition
A specific named Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) that funnels arriving IFR traffic toward a destination airport via the PAWLING navigation fix, using a published sequence of fixes, altitudes, and routing. The 'TWO' indicates this is the second published revision of that arrival procedure.
Plain English
A pre-planned arrival path, named after the PAWLING fix it passes through, that pilots fly to bring their aircraft into the area of an airport in an organized way. 'TWO' just means it is the second version of this arrival that has been published.
Context Anchor
Seen on STAR charts, in IFR clearances, and during arrival briefings before descent into the terminal area.
Derivation
STARs are typically named after a prominent fix, navaid, or geographic feature on the route. PAWLING is a navigation fix near Pawling, New York. The numeric suffix (TWO, THREE, etc.) is a revision number that increments each time the procedure is amended.
Why Pilots Care
Following the assigned arrival keeps the aircraft on a safe path, maintains separation from other traffic, and satisfies ATC instructions.
Intuition Check
Do not read “arrival” as simply “the act of landing.” Here it means a published IFR route that leads toward the airport area before the approach. “Two” is a version number, not a command to fly two arrivals.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared to KHPN via the PAWLING TWO ARRIVAL, the crew loaded the procedure into the FMS and briefed the crossing restrictions.
Example Sentence 2
ATC instructed the flight to cross BRONX at FL180 on the Pawling Two Arrival.