Operators: Amended Altitude Restriction via the DYAMD TWO STAR into San Francisco Airport

Feb. 4, 2016

Flight operators utilizing the DYAMD TWO (RNAV) arrival into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are reminded of a NOTAM that changes the altitude restriction at ARCHI to read 8,000 feet.

ATC will assign an amended altitude with the descend via clearance for aircraft arriving via the DYAMD Two STAR (RNAV) into San Francisco. A NOTAM (FDC 5/0051) was issued in October 2015 against the DYAMD STAR amending the altitude restriction at ARCHI to 8,000’ MSL; however, numerous crews have failed to comply with the NOTAM’s amended altitude at ARCHI.

In response, Oakland ARTCC will issue the following descent via clearance to aircraft from the en route environment: “[aircraft/flight ID] descend via the DYAMD two arrival, except cross ARCHI at 8,000 feet.”

Pilots should use proper descend via phraseology upon subsequent initial contact when conducting a descend via clearance that incorporates the ATC-assigned bottom altitude that is different from the bottom altitude published on the procedure (e.g. “NorCal approach, Learjet 1234, leaving one-five thousand for eight thousand, descending via the DYAMD TWO Arrival”). The FAA is amending the procedure in the first available publication cycle, but that is not expected to occur for several months, and the NOTAM will remain in effect until that occurs.

Notes Reference Procedural Changes due to the amended altitude restriction.

• Northern Cal TRACON will vector aircraft to join the ILS 28R or 28L. They will not give the approach directly from the STAR.
• Northern Cal TRACON will clear aircraft for the Quiet Bridge Visual after issuing clearance to cross ARCHI at 8,000 feet
• Nine Instrument Approach Procedures plus the DYAMD TWO STAR will be changing the altitude restriction at ARCHI to 8,000 feet (publication expected approximately July 21, 2016)
• Eventually changes to the Class Bravo Airspace will occur and they will revert back to the 7,000 feet altitude restriction at ARCHI (this is not expected until at least the second half of 2017).

Current NOTAM reference DYAMD TWO Arrival altitude restriction

FDC 5/0051 (KSFO A1963/15) SFO STAR SAN FRANCISCO INTL,SAN FRANCISCO, CA. DYAMD TWO ARRIVAL (RNAV) CHANGE ALTITUDE RESTRICTION AT ARCHI TO READ: 8000. ALL OTHER DATA REMAINS AS PUBLISHED. 1510021330-1610012359EST