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Holding patterns: one-page summary
FAA rules (14 CFR Part 91 and the AIM). Full explanations and worked examples: pilotscafe.com/holding-patterns-101/
The clearance (uncharted hold)
- Direction of the hold from the fix (N, NE, E…)
- Holding fix
- Radial, course, bearing, airway or route
- Leg length in miles if DME or RNAV (minutes on request)
- Left turns, if nonstandard
- EFC time
Charted hold: "Hold east as published." No instructions and none available: hold a standard pattern on the course you arrived on. Report the time and altitude reaching the fix, and report leaving it. Write down the EFC.
Maximum holding speeds
| Up to 6,000 ft MSL | 200 KIAS |
| 6,001 to 14,000 ft | 230 KIAS |
| 14,001 ft and above | 265 KIAS |
Be at or below it at least 3 minutes before the fix. Charted limits apply: an icon (210 KIAS), a speed in parentheses such as (175). USAF fields 310, Navy 230. Can't comply? Tell ATC.
Timing
Inbound leg: 1 min at or below 14,000 ft MSL, 1½ min above. Start the outbound timer over or abeam the fix, whichever comes later (or wings level outbound if you can't tell). First outbound leg 1 (or 1½) min, then adjust the outbound leg to fix the inbound time.
DME/GPS legs: the outbound leg ends at a distance. Inbound toward the station: fix DME + leg. Inbound away from it: fix DME − leg.
Wind
Outbound: triple the inbound correction, into the wind (8° left inbound = 24° right outbound).
Bank
Whichever needs least: 3°/s, 30°, or 25° with a flight director.
Entries: decide from your heading at the fix
| Teardrop | Parallel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right turns | OB − 70° to OB | OB to OB + 110° |
| Left turns | OB to OB + 70° | OB − 110° to OB |
OB = outbound course. Any other heading: direct.
- Direct: cross the fix, turn in the holding direction to the outbound heading.
- Parallel: cross the fix, turn to the outbound heading on the nonholding side, 1 min, turn toward the holding side through more than 180°, intercept inbound or return to the fix.
- Teardrop: cross the fix, turn to OB − 30° (right turns) or OB + 30° (left turns), 1 min, turn in the holding direction to intercept inbound.
At the fix: the five T's
Turn (at a VOR: first full TO/FROM reversal), Time, Twist the course to inbound, Throttle to holding speed, Talk: time and altitude.
Hold in lieu of procedure turn
Fly it as charted; don't exceed the leg length or time; holding speeds apply. Not with NoPT, radar vectors to final, or a timed approach. Descend to the FAF altitude only when established inbound.
Lost comm (91.185)
With an EFC, hold until the EFC time, then start the approach, or leave for the fix where the approach begins. Without one, see 91.185(c)(3).