Definition
A written, narrative description of a Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) procedure, presented in plain language rather than as a charted graphic, listing the route, fixes, altitudes, and instructions a pilot must follow.
Plain English
A word-based version of an arrival procedure that tells the pilot, in sentences, exactly where to fly and what altitudes to meet, instead of showing it as a picture on a chart.
Context Anchor
Seen on published arrival procedures, including STARs, where the chart may include both a graphic view and written instructions or notes.
Derivation
From Latin textus, meaning 'something woven,' which became the word for written material. A textual description is therefore the procedure expressed in writing rather than drawn.
Why Pilots Care
The written description can clarify details that are easy to miss in the chart picture, such as route choices, altitude limits, speed limits, or special notes.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the picture on the chart is the whole procedure. The textual description is part of the procedure and may contain required information.
Example Sentence 1
Some STARs have no graphic chart, so the pilot must brief the arrival from the textual description.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots review the textual description before departure to confirm the expected routing into the terminal area.