US Descend via (has there been a change)
 

The excellent FAA document….

“Pilot/Controllers Procedures & Systems Integration Work Group Climb Via/Descend Via Speed Clearances Frequently Asked Questions
Pilot/Controllers Procedures & Systems Integration Work Group”

….Is no longer available online, has there been any significant change to USA climb via / descend via procedures.Specifically is this still the case….

“12 Q. What if I receive a “Cleared” or “Cleared Via” clearance; am I permitted to descend to meet any published altitudes?

A. NO. Only a “Descend Via” clearance gives you the vertical authorization. The other two examples are a “lateral” clearance. Note: Compliance with published speed restrictions are required, unless canceled or modified by ATC.”

As far as I know, yes. If they want you to follow the vertical profile, you’ll hear “climb/descend via”.

Tangentially, I’ve heard some controllers use “climb unrestricted” instead of “climb and maintain”, which I think is an improvement.

Gotta love the old “climb to and maintain” nonsense.

Is the removed document the same as this one?https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...nd_Via_FAQ.pdf Regardless, it's a thorough and exact reference. To try to get it quickly without this link, it's the first Google result for "FAA climb via faq"

And here it is as an attachment
edit: ... or, not. Does a mod have to approve attachments?

I got into MIA last week, and since it had been a while since I last was there, I tried to look for this very subject in preparation for my flight there. The online (free) version of the AIM did the job just fine. This is the link for the "arrival procedures" section of the "ATC procedures" chapter, where I found the relevant information: FAA AIM

Thanks guys.You are both right, the FAA doc you found is the one which I thought had been withdrawn. The AIM ref is copied and pasted into the JEPS and both state descend via or you are just cleared for the lateral element of the star.