Holding Procedures
Overview
• What is a Hold?
• Holding Fixes
• Holding Clearances
• Holding Techniques
• Crosswind Correction
• Timing Correction
• Holding Speeds
• Entries
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What is a Hold
JIC 5-39
• Method of delaying airborne aircraft to help maintain separation for
smooth traffic flow
• When there are weather delays
• When traffic becomes congested
• At the end of published missed approaches
• Used to climb in a departure procedure
• Used at end of a flight plan if there is a loss of communications with
ATC
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Standard Holding Pattern
• Racetrack shaped maneuver
• Typically consists of two 1-minute legs
with standard rate turns in between
them
• Above 14,000 feet, holds are flown at 1 ½
min legs
• Legs can be designated with longer time
or a specific distance
• Standard – turns to the right
• Non-standard – turns to the left
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JIC 5-40
Holding Fix
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JIC 5-40
Over a VOR or NDB
Over an intersection or DME fix
Over a GPS waypoint
On an airway
On a localizer
On a departure
On an arrival
On an approach
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Holding Pattern Clearance
• Cardinal direction (“hold south of…”)
• Holding fix (“the Melbourne VOR”)
• Specified radial/course/airway (“on the 180 radial”)
• Leg Length (“2 mile legs” if DME hold)
• Left or right turns (“right turns” may be omitted)
• Specified altitude (if different from current)
• Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time
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IFH 10-11
Further Instructions
• ATC will issue further instructions if:
• A revised EFC is necessary
• Delay will be more than 1 hour
• Weather changes at destination
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IFH 10-11
Outbound and Inbound Timing
JIC 5-41
• The challenge is to make the inbound leg exactly 1 minute in length
• Do this by adjusting the outbound leg for wind
• If inbound leg is only 45 seconds, add the 15 seconds to the outbound
leg
• New outbound leg becomes 1 minutes and 15 seconds
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Crosswind Corrections
• If you fail to adjust the hold
for crosswind, you may
overshoot the inbound
course or undershoot it
• Therefore, you must adjust
for crosswind
• Determine the correction
needed to maintain your
inbound leg
• Triple that correction for
your outbound leg
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JIC 5-42
Maximum Holding Speeds
JIC 5-44
• Speed limits are mandatory to limit the amount of airspace that ATC
must protect
• Minimum holding altitude:
• 6000’
• 6001’ to 14,000’
• Above 14,000’
200 KIAS
230 KIAS
265 KIAS
• Start slowing to below maximum holding speed when within 3
minutes of the holding fix
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Holding Pattern Entries
• No entry is required – you may use any entry you wish
• The following entries are recommended by the AIM
• The entries are:
• Direct
• Teardrop
• Parallel
• Feel free to change adjust as needed
• On the border of a teardrop and parallel, I always prefer teardrop
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JIC 5-46
6 T’s
Obj. Op.
• Turn (to the specified heading according to entry)
• Time (start you timing)
• Twist (turn the OBS selector to the inbound course)
• Throttle (if needed reduce power to conserve fuel)
• Talk (report entering the hold at time and altitude)
• Test (check the heading indicator to the compass)
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Determining the Entry
• Draw the fix, the radial and the direction of turns
• On outbound leg, 1/3 away from fix mark a point
• Draw line from fix to point, and line through course
• Determine your position from fix and where you fall in
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JIC 5-46
Direct Entry Procedure
• Approaching the holding fix from
anywhere in sector (c)
• Pass over the station and turn directly
to follow the holding pattern
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JIC 5-46
Teardrop Procedure
• Approaching the holding fix from
anywhere in sector (b)
• Pass over the fix, turn 30º toward the
holding side
• Fly for one minute
• Then turn in the direction of the
holding pattern to intercept the
inbound course
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JIC 5-47
Parallel Procedure
• Approaching the holding fix from
anywhere in sector (a)
• Pass over the fix and turn parallel the
outbound course
• Fly outbound for 1 minute
• Turn in the direction of the holding
pattern more than 180 degrees, and
return to the holding fix or intercept
the holding course inbound
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JIC 5-47
Holding Pattern Practice
• You’re tracking to RIL VOR
• “Hold west of the Horst
intersection on Victor 8, 5
mile Legs, left turns, expect
further clearance at 1430.”
• What type of entry?
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Holding Pattern Practice
• You’re tracking to RIL VOR
on V8
• “Hold East of the RIFLE VOR
on the 090 radial, expect
further clearance at 1215.”
• What type of entry?
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Holding Pattern Practice
• You’re tracking to RIL VOR
on V8
• “Hold East of the RIFLE VOR
on the 090 radial, left turns,
expect further clearance at
1215.”
• What type of entry?
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Final Thoughts on Holding
Obj. Op.
• Make sure you report established in the hold when you are
established
• ATC will keep airspace protected until you report established
• After that, only a certain part of airspace is protected
Protected
Unprotected
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References
• JIC Jeppesen Instrument/Commercial: Guided Flight Discovery
• Obj. Op. Objective Opinion
• 14 CFR Federal Aviation Regulations
• IFH Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15A)
• IPG Jeppesen Instrument Procedures Guide
• L-Chart No formal description in text, but found on L-Charts
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