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Holding Pattern 

Holding patterns describe an oval racetrack pattern that are either called standard or non standard holding pattern that can be determined either by timing or distance.

The Purpose of  Holding Patterns

• Holding Patterns were established to delay airborne traffic due to:​

1. Allows aircraft to reverse their course on an instrument approach procedure.
2. Weather
3. ATC Delays
4. Radio Failure

The Standard Holding Pattern

Holding patterns describe an oval racetrack pattern over a:

• NAVAID
• FIX
• INTERSECTION OR WAYPOINT.

A standard holding pattern has the following:  

• Below 14,000 MSL, two standard rates, 180 degree turns separated by 1 min straight segments.

• Above 14,000 MSL the straight segments are flown for 1 and 1/2 minutes.

• All turns are made to the right unless otherwise depicted or mentioned by ATC.

A NON standard holding pattern has the following:  

• A nonstandard holding pattern uses left turns.
   
• The ATC clearance always specifies left turns when a nonstandard pattern is to be flown.

The Structure of a Holding Pattern 

• There will always be a point at which the airplane will hold, and what takes us directly to this place is refered to as INBOUND LEG.

Inbound Leg

Outbound Leg 

• The OUTBOUND LEG starts after you passed the holding fix and made a 180 turn. After the turn, you will be abeam the fix. From there you'll start your time and fly the outbound leg for 1 min (In a no wind scenario).

• The outbound leg on every holding pattern is always a reciprocal heading of the inbound heading (plus or minus wind correction)

 Timing

• A timed pattern below 14,000 ft MSL is two standard-rate 180° turns separated by 1 min straight legs.

• The straight legs in a timed pattern above 14,000 ft MSL is flown for 1 min and 30 sec.

Outbound and Inbound Timing 

Outbound Timing

Inbound Timing

• The challenge of Holding Patterns is getting 1 min inbound because it's hard to predict the effects of wind.
• ​After timing the first inbound leg, you should make adjustments in the outbound leg to get 1 min inbound as shown in the example.

Second Circuit = 1 min and 15 sec

Second Circuit = 1 min

First Circuit = 1 min

First Circuit = 45 sec

Holding Fix

Headwind Correction

Distance 

• When DME is used, the same holding procedure apply, however, the turns are being made at the specified DME distance from a fix or station (navaid).

• You are holding at the DME fix and not the navaid; thus, the inbound leg to the holding fix will be outbound from the navaid.

Crosswind Correction 

• Flying a Holding Pattern without wind correction may cause the aircraft to drift to the non - protected side (the side on the holding without ATC and obstacle protection).

• As a rule of thumb:
  • The Wind Correction Angle used to maintain the inbound course should be tripled on the outbound leg.

Crosswind Correction

Maximum Holding Speed

Holding Pattern Entries 

Holding Pattern Entries 

"The recommended entry according to the AIM is the one in which the aircraft would turn the least amount of degrees to become stablished on the inbound leg" 

• Every Holding Pattern always follows the following acronym refered to as "5Ts"

                           Turn

                           Time

                           Twist

                           Throttle

                           Talk

Direct Entry

" If the Aircraft is heading toward the nose of the holding pattern the recommend entry would be a direct entry"

Procedure AIM 5-3-8

1. Fly directly to the fix

2. Turn in the direction of the holding pattern through more than 180 degrees.

Direct Entry Demonstration

Direct Entry Demonstration

Teardrop Entry

" If the Aircraft is heading toward the body of the holding pattern the recommend entry would be a teardrop entry"

Procedure AIM 5-3-8

1. Fly to the fix

2. Turn outbound to a heading for a 30-degree teardrop entry within the pattern (on the holding side) for a period of one minute. To determine that heading figure out the outbound leg and add 30 degrees if its a left turns holding pattern, and subtract 30 degrees for a right turns holding pattern.

3. Return to the holding fix or intercept the holding course inbound.

Teardrop Entry Demonstration

Teardrop Entry Demonstration

Parallel Entry

" If the aircraft is heading towards the non protected area (outside the holding) upon crossing the fix, the recommended entry would be a parallel entry"

Procedure AIM 5-3-8

1. Turn to a heading to parallel the holding course outbound on the non-holding side for one minute.

2. Turn in the direction of the holding pattern through more than 180 degrees.

3. Return to the holding fix or intercept the holding course inbound.

Parallel Entry Demonstration

Parallel Entry Demonstration

Holding Exercises 

"What would the recommended entry for airplane 2"?

1

DIRECT

2

3

4

"What would the recommened entry for airplane 3"?

1

TEARDROP

2

3

4

"What would the recommended entry for airplane 4"?

1

PARALLEL

2

3

4

Visualizing Entry Procedures 

First Step

"The Clearance: N224MA, cleared to curve intersection via heading 340, intercept Victor 35 to CURVE. Hold east on Victor 35, standard turns. Maintain 4000 feet. Expect further clearance at zero-five-three-zero".

Second Step

"Aviate, Navigate, Communicate"

The second step consists in setting the navigation equipment to reach the holding intersection.

• In our scenario we need to tune 113.9 for the DHP VOR and Select the 270 radial.
• We also need to use our GPS to figure out the distance to CURVE intersection (16 DME).

Third Step

• Complying with the clearance requires to VISUALIZE the holding structure in order to get in and to fly it correctly.

1. What is the radial, airway or course to hold on?

2. Which inbound leg lies on the side of the intersection specified in the holding direction?

3. Right or Left turns?

4. Where am I in relation to the FIX?

5. WHAT IS THE ENTRY?

Holding Pattern Summary

Holding Exercices

"Hold NW of Winco on Victor 97, LEFT TURNS, EFC in 10 min"

How would this holding pattern look like ?

Answer 

"Hold North Of DOUGZ, on the 180° Course, Left Turns, EFC in 10 min"

What would this holding pattern look like?

Answer 

" Hold South of the DHP VOR, on the 180° Radial, Left Turns, EFC in 10 min"

How would this holding look like?

Answer 

An aircraft is NE of the DHP VOR flying inbound to the station on the 040° Radial

What would be the entry?

"N123EC, Hold WEST of the DHP VOR, on the 270° Radial, make LEFT turns, EFC in 10min"

Answer 

An aircraft is SW of the DYLYN Waypoint, on the 030° Course to the Fix

What would be the entry?

"N123EC, Hold NE of DYLYN, on the 240° Course to DYLYN, EFC in 10 min"

Answer 

An Aircraft is SE of WINCO going outbound on V 97

What would be the entry?

"N123EC, Hold SE of WINCO on V97, make LEFT Turns, EFC 10 MIN"

Answer 

ATC Holding

Instructions 

• ATC will give pilots instructions to hold at a fix if a holding pattern is not charted.

• Holding instructions will include:

1. direction from the fix
2. name of the fix
3. course
4. distance (DME) if used
5. direction of turns (standard or non standard)
6. EFC time

 Holding Fix

A holding fix can be any Navaid, DME Fix or Waypoint

• DME FIX 

• VOR Radial to a NAVAID 

• NDB Bearing 

GPS COURSE

GPS course to a waypoint (Inbound or outbound depending on the holding instruction.​​

1. The direction of holding in terms of the eight cardinal points (the side of the fix on which the inbound leg lies).

2. Holding Fix (it may be omitted if included on the beginning of the transmission as the clearance limit).

ATC will always give you the following information:

4. The direction of turns if left turns are to be made, the pilot requests it or the controllers consider it necessary.

5. Time to Expect further Clearance or any additional delay information.

"The Clearance: N224MA, Hold East of the DHP VOR, on the 090° Radial, Standard Turns, EFC in 10min ".

Holding Clearance