If you are a frequent flyer, you may have had to hold at one time or another.Holding is when an airplane makes several turns to avoid other aircraft or wait for a clearance to land.If you are a pilot working on an instrument rating, you may still encounter a holding request, even if it is not as common as it used to be.The following article is written from a private pilot's point of view and assumes you know how to use aircraft navigation equipment.
Step 1: The holding fix is determined.
Air Traffic Control will give you instructions to "hold north of SKIER intersection as published" or " hold south-eastern of Falcon VOR on Victor 366, left turns."The intersection of Victor Airways and a VOR can be identified on an instrument flying chart.
Step 2: See the holding course in a different light.
ATC would like you to hold at the holding fix.They can say "hold west on Victor8" or " hold on the 260 radial."Before flying holding patterns, you should be familiar with VOR and NDB radials and bearings.This will always be the inverse of the radial or bearing "from" the station.To identify this, take a piece of paper and draw a line in the direction of the airway to hold on.The holding course can be identified with an arrow pointing to the station.
Step 3: Draw a holding pattern.
You can draw a picture of the holding pattern once you have the Fix and Course.You have to determine if it is standard or non-standard.Non-standard turns are to the left of a standard pattern turn.ATC will say "non-standard pattern" or "left turns" if the pattern is not standard.If you start at the Holding Fix, draw a 180 turn in the direction you want to go, continue the line parallel to the holding course, and then you can come back to it.The "racetrack" is a holding pattern.
Step 4: The correct entry procedure to determine.
You will need to follow an entry procedure to enter the holding pattern.If you are coming from the left, use a Teardrop procedure.The Parallel procedure can be used if you come from the left or the right.Fly a direct entry from the remaining 180.The entry procedures are parallel.When approaching the holding fix from anywhere within sector (a), turn to a heading to parallel the hold course outbound on the non-holding side for the appropriate time and then turn in the direction of holding pattern through more than 180 degrees.The procedure is short.To intercept the inbound holding course, when approaching the holding fix from anywhere in sector (b), turn outbound to a heading 30 from the hold side for the appropriate time.There is a direct entry procedure.Fly directly to the fix when approaching it from anywhere in the sector.
Step 5: Time the hips.
If you are flying at or below 14,000 feet, the Inbound Leg should be one minute long.At the holding fix, make a 180 standard rate turn in the direction of the pattern.If you are unable to determine abeam the holding fix after rolling out of the turn, start timing the outbound leg.After a minute, make another 180 turn in the same direction to intercept the holding course.Wait until the holding fix is reached.It should be one or 112 minutes if there is no wind.To make the inbound leg the right time, you will need to adjust the outbound leg.It takes 45 seconds to fly the inbound leg after flying outbound, so make your outbound leg 1 minute and 15 seconds next time.If the inbound leg is 30 seconds, shorten the outbound leg by the same amount.
Step 6: Look at your speed.
Unless otherwise stated on a chart or directed by ATC, the maximum airspeed between the minimum holding altitude and 6,000 feet is 200 knots.The maximum airspeed is 265 KIAS if you fly between 6001 and 14,000 feet.
Step 7: The wind should make the inbound leg happen at the right time.
If the outbound leg is shorter than the inbound leg, shorten it.The outbound leg should be shortened by the excess time if the inbound leg is too long.If the inbound leg takes 45 seconds to complete, the outbound leg should take 15 seconds.
Step 8: You should triple your crosswind correction on the outbound leg.
If you have a 10 crosswind correction, you can fly the outbound leg.The standard rate turns should be maintained.
Step 9: There are holding patterns that require the use of distance measuring equipment.
The basics are the same, except a holding fix is used.
Step 10: The pattern can be entered as appropriate (teardrop, parallel, or direct).
Step 11: The outbound leg should be turned at the specified DME/ATD fix.
Step 12: If you want to end the outbound leg instead of timing it, turn to the inbound leg at the required distance.
If you are holding on to the 10DME fix and flying 5 mile legs as directed by ATC, you would end the outbound leg at 24 km.You should end your outbound leg if you are holding on to the 20DME fix.