1. Advanced Holding Patterns
Christian Pezalla
ATP, CFII

2. What is holding a pattern?
Racetrack Shaped Pattern
Used to:
Hold aircraft during delays
Hold aircraft during inclement weather
Provide course reversal (procedure turn)
Provide default actions at clearance limit
Climb aircraft to required altitude
Handle aircraft in non-radar environment

3. Hold Segments
Inbound Leg
Outbound Turn
Outbound Leg
Inbound Turn

4. No-Wind Pattern (1 Min Legs)
1 Minute Outbound Turn
180 Degrees of heading Change
1 Minute Inbound Leg
1 Minute Outbound Leg
1 Minute Inbound Turn
180 Degrees of heading Change

5. Lateral Wind Correction
Wind affects the path of the aircraft at all times, even while turning turns
A 1 minute pattern with no adjustment for wind requires 4 minutes to complete. 4 Minutes equals 1/15 of an hour
A 15kt wind will push the aircraft off course by an entire mile in the time required to complete one circuit
A 30kt wind will push the aircraft 2 miles off course unless correction are made for wind

6. Lateral Wind Correction (Wrong)
Example 1
No outbound wind correction
Entire inbound leg used to correct
Aircraft is pushed during both turns and outbound leg

7. Lateral Wind Correction (Wrong)
Example 1
No outbound wind correction
Entire inbound leg used to correct
Aircraft is pushed during both turns and outbound leg
Example 2
Outbound wind correction insufficient
Inbound leg correcting for wind but not returning to inbound course
Aircraft is pushed during both turns

8. Lateral Wind Correction (Correct)
Example 3
Outbound wind correction
(Triple Method)
Inbound leg properly aligned after turn
Aircraft is pushed during both turns
Same as Example 3
Outbound wind correction towards wind
Inbound leg properly aligned after turn
Aircraft is pushed during both turns

9. Timing Points Start Outbound Timing Abeam the Holding Fix Wings Level
(If Abeam Point Cannot be Determined)
Complete Timing at the Fix and Turn Outbound
Start Inbound Timing
Crossing the Inbound Course
Rolling Wings Level
-Whichever occurs first
Complete Timing and Turn Inbound

10. Timing for Wind
Outbound Timing Too Long
Correct Timing
Correct Timing

11. Outbound Timing
(b) Outbound leg timing begins over/abeam the fix, whichever occurs later. If the abeam position cannot be determined, start timing when turn to outbound is completed. (FAA AIM, February 2013)
Abeam Point

12. What to Write Down All of the Instructions Inbound Course
Write down and readback all parts of the ATC clearance
If too busy for readback, say “standby for readback”
Inbound Course
Determine and write down the inbound course
May be the same as the number in the clearance or reverse
Outbound Heading
Determine and write down the no- wind outbound heading
Will always be the opposite of the inbound course
Time or Distances
Determine distances or timing to be used and write down

13. What to Write Down All of the Instructions Inbound Course
Write down and readback all parts of the ATC clearance
If too busy for readback, say “standby for readback”
Inbound Course
Determine and write down the inbound course
May be the same as the number in the clearance or reverse
Outbound Heading
Determine and write down the no- wind outbound heading
Will always be the opposite of the inbound course
Time or Distances
Determine distances or timing to be used and write down

14. Navigation Sources VOR NDB GPS ILS VOR Only VOR/VOR VOR/DME
VOR Area Nav (RNAV)
NDB
NDB Only
NDB/VOR
NDB/DME
GPS
OBS Mode
Database Mode
ILS
ILS/Marker Beacon
ILS/LOM
ILS/DME
ILS/GS
ILS/VOR

15. VOR Holding (Always Timed)
Cessna 1234, Hold south of the Ranger VOR on the 180 radial, make right hand turns, and expect further clearance 1400Z
Cessna 1234, Hold northeast of the Volunteer VOR on the 030 radial, make left hand turns, and expect further clearance 1200Z
ATC Instructions:
Direction
Holding Fix
Inbound Course
Direction of Turns
Expect Further Clearance Time
Write Down:
All of the Instructions
Inbound Course
Outbound Heading
Time or Distances

16. VOR/DME Holding (with Timing)
ATC Instructions:
Direction
Holding Fix
Inbound Course
Direction of Turns
Expect Further Clearance Time
Write Down:
All of the Instructions
Inbound Course
Outbound Heading
Time or Distances

17. GPS Holding Satellite Based
Ground Speed read accurately at all positions
Distance is measured from the selected fix (not the NAVAID)
Three Types of GPS Holds
GPS OBS Holding
GPS Database holding
GPS FMS Holding

18. GPS OBS Holding Functions like a VOR Hold
Fix, NAVAID, intersection or airport
Works with user defined waypoints
Provides distance to fix information
Inbound course must be manually set
GPS will not provide entry guidance
User Defined Waypoint

19. Simplifying the Hold with GPS OBS (Mode)
Replacing Ground Based Navigation
Allowed when not part of an approach
More stable and consistent than ground based systems
Constant CDI Scale
Normally requires OBD mode

20. GPS Database Holding GPS driven CDI
Provides distance to fix information
Inbound course is automatically set
GPS may provide entry guidance

21. Holding (Protected) Airspace
Outlined in FAA Order A
Determined by ATC
Not Readily Available to Pilots
Not Pilots’ Responsibility
Depends on
Altitude
Speed
Navigation Aid
Diagram Courtesy of the FAA

22. Flight on the Non-Holding Side is Normal
Diagram from FAA Order A

23. Flying the Parallel Entry
Wrong (Attempting to Track Radial)
Correct (Flying Outbound Heading)
Diagrams from FAA Order A

24. Dealing with High Winds
Consider the wind before entering the hold
Be aggressive with wind correction angles
Extend length of the hold legs
Increasing your speed in the hold
Do not make the outbound leg too short
Request a different hold

25. Advanced Holding Concepts
Knowing the Wind on Entry
Winds Aloft Report (FD)
Pilot Reports (PIREPs)
Tracking prior to the hold
On board systems (GPS based)
GPS wind vector
GPS track indicator

26. Disorientation When does it happen? How does it happen?
Before and during entry
How does it happen?
Failure to understand hold orientation
How do we prevent disorientation?
Clarify ATC instructions and write down headings
What to do when it happens?
Fly 20 sec in any direction then turn back to fix and redo entry
Or fly outbound for 30 sec and reverse course

27. Key Points Always refer to the FAR/AIM for correct information
Write down and readback air traffic control instructions
Always confirm the navigation source in use
Use large correction angles during high wind

28. How to Best Utilize Technology
Learn the functions and limits of your equipment
Monitor navigation systems to ensure proper function and cross check against paper charts (or ipad)
Use the most appropriate techniques, not necessarily the most automated method

29. Direct Entry Procedure
Fly directly to the fix and turn to the outbound heading
Apply wind correction to first outbound if possible
Start timing at abeam point (or wings level if abeam can not be determined)
Consider disregarding timing from first circuit

30. Teardrop Entry Procedure
After crossing fix turn to a heading 30 degrees towards the outbound leg (15 degrees for distance legs)
LARS (Left Add, Right Subtract)
Start timing over the fix
Turn over the fix could be either direction
Turn inbound will be same as direction of the hold

31. Parallel Entry Procedure
Cross the fix and turn to the outbound heading
Do not track the radial, bearing or course
Start timing while crossing the fix
Fly specified time or distance then turn opposite the direction of the hold

32. ATC Instructions Holding instructions will always include:
The direction of the hold from the fix (orientation)
The holding fix to be used (May or may not be a NAVAID)
The course that defines in the inbound leg (radial, bearing or track to)
The direction of the turns
Expect Further Clearance time (EFC)
Holding instructions are “instructions” not a clearance

33. VOR/DME Holding (with Distance Legs)
Cessna 1234, Hold south of the Orlando VOR 10 mile DME on the 360 radial, make right hand turns, with 4 mile legs and expect further clearance 2100Z
Write Down:
All of the Instructions
Inbound Course
Outbound Heading
Time or Distances
ATC Instructions:
Direction
Holding Fix
Inbound Course
Direction of Turns
*Leg Length*
Expect Further Clearance Time

34. Advanced Cockpits Electronic Wind Information
Compares actual ground path against projected path
Inaccurate while turning
Inaccurate without correct airspeed, pressure, temp, heading and GPS data
Bad data when changing aircraft direction causes large changes in wind
Building a User Defined GNSS Waypoint
May be used for points not defined in the GPS database
Not all fixes are included in GPS databases
Out of date databases may be missing critical fixes
Useful for training

35. G1000 Holding with MFD (Moving Map)
MFD only displays a hold if it is in the database
Holds in the database may not be changed or reprogrammed
Size determined by groundspeed
Invalid airspeed data does not affect hold size
Shaped determined by groundspeed and wind
Assumes no wind when wind data is not available
Course deviation indicator does not track the MFD hold image
CDI functions are the same in database and OBS mode
Flight director follows MFD holding pattern
Only works with database holds, not OBS

36. What is the Distance to KROME?

37. Distance to KROME I-MFA 15.1NM DHP 10.6NM KROME 00.0NM COPRA 04.0NM
MAP 12.0NM
RW 13.2NM

38. Examples NBD App with GPS Overlay One Minute Hold on GPS App MADKS Fix
Crossing Altitude

39. Examples Holding Pattern Lateral Guidance: LOM AG Fix Identification:
LOM (NDB)
Marker Beacons
DME from IRQ

40. Pencil Method Write down ATC instructions Point aircraft towards fix
Determine outbound heading
Find that heading on gyro
Horizontal line is always offset 20 degrees with high set in the direction of turns
Second line is always vertical

41. Parallel/Teardrop Split