I am doing a flight from Turkmenistan’s Askhabad Internatinoal Airport (UTAA) to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (KJFK). the SID is ok for UTAA but my SimBrief FPL has my TOD insidwe the ROBER2 STAR. The TOD is between the PVD Providence VOR and fix TRAIT. The chart, linked above says that from PVD to TRAIT that i should be at 3000 feet, but at that point I would only have started to descend, since I wil be sleeping, I turned off step climbing, my cruise alititude will be FL320. So, is it ok to start your descent in the middle of a STAR? Sorry if this is a bumb question.
The 3000ft altitude in that chart isn’t the altitude you should be at. It’s the MEA, which is the Minimum Enroute Altitude. It’s essentially the lowest an aircraft can be at that given leg of a STAR. In the case of your chart, you cannot go below 3000ft.
If you want to know the altitudes you should be at for a given waypoint, look for altitudes that contain a line above, below, or above and below the altitude number. I’ve taken an example from your chart below.
Image 1: Altitude at Waypoint ROBER
This means that you should expect to cross ROBER at exactly 9000ft, as designated by the lines both above and below the altitude.
I’ve descended after the start of a STAR. It all depends on where you’re flying to and the procedures at that airport. @ToasterStroodie gives much better words than I do though
No worries! Happy to help. And just as an additional note, you should expect to be at FL240 at TRAIT. Just look for those altitudes with a line above, below, or above and below them as a way to guide you down your descent path.
A line above the altitude means cross at or below that altitude.
A line below the altitude means cross at or above that altitude.
A line above and below means cross at that altitude.
Of course, ATC can change your altitudes as they deem necessary, so always prioritize those instructions over your chart. Happy flying!
