Which clearance is not permitted?

• A. Clearing the aircraft to the first fix on the route of flight.
• B. Clearing the aircraft to a fix after the start of the STAR.
• C. Clearing the aircraft to the last fix before the start of any STAR.
• D. Clearing the aircraft past the last fix before the start of any STAR.

Answer: (D)

STARs define a fixed sequence of fixes to guide arrivals from en route into the terminal area. A clearance must keep an aircraft within that published arrival path and not send it into en-route airspace before the STAR is joined. Clearing to a fix beyond the last fix before the STAR would route the aircraft past the STAR boundary and into en-route territory, bypassing the intended arrival flow. That disrupts sequencing and separation and isn’t allowed. The other clearances stay inside the STAR structure (to the first fix on the route, to a fix after the STAR begins but still on the STAR, or to the last fix before the STAR), so they’re permissible.