Figure 3-9 Holding Entry Procedures

CHAPTER THREE

RADIO INSTRUMENTS

Figure 3-9 Holding Entry Procedures

The holding entry turn will place the aircraft either outside the depicted holding pattern (Parallel

entry), or within the pattern area (Teardrop or Direct). Care must be taken to ensure a proper

track over the ground during Parallel entries. This is because there is limited protected space on

the non-holding side of the radial. On Direct and Teardrop entries, the student should alter

heading as necessary to position the aircraft at a distance from the holding radial equal to the

aircraft's turn radius (2 miles for 180 turn at 200 KTAS, no-wind). This requires calculation of

radial width at the turnpoint DME. For example, if the turnpoint was at 60 DME and there was

no wind, the aircraft should be offset by a two-radial width to make a SRT to rejoin the holding

radial.

The aircraft is considered to be "established in holding" upon initially crossing the holding fix.

At this point, a mandatory call to ATC is made containing the following information: "aircraft

name, position, time, altitude". There is no FAA-published definition of "one turn in holding" or

"two turns in holding". Consequently, requests for practice holding most often result in a

holding clearance with an EFC.

HOLDING PATTERN WIND CORRECTIONS

Under no-wind conditions, the aircraft track over the ground would be a symmetrical race- track

pattern. In reality, however winds aloft will always be a factor when holding. The student

should compensate for wind in order to arrive at an outbound location from which a turn inbound

will place the aircraft on the holding course. This may be accomplished by flying a crab angle

into the wind on the outbound leg. On consecutive laps, a drift correction should be utilized on

the outbound leg that is roughly double, the crab required to maintain the holding radial. Using

Figure 3-10 as an example, a 30 angle of bank turn at the fix would put the aircraft well inside

3-34

RADIO INSTRUMENTS