Holds

Question 1

What are the maximum holding airspeeds and their associated altitudes?

Answer 1

Up to 6,000 ft
- 200 kts

6,001 ft - 14,000 ft
- 230 kts

14,001ft and above
- 265 kts

• Altitudes are in MSL.

Question 2

How long should your Inbound leg be?

Answer 2

AIM 5-3-8

At or below 14,000ft
- 1 Min

Above 14,000ft
- 1.5 Mins

Question 3

When does Outbound leg timing begin?

Answer 3

AIM 5-3-8

1. Over or Abeam the fix, whichever occurs LAST. Always abeam the fix when on the FIRST outbound leg
2. If that cannot be computed, timing will start at wings level

Question 4

When does Inbound leg timing begin?

Answer 4

Pilots Cafe

• When established on the inbound leg and wings level.

Question 5

What are the 3 Hold Entry Procedures and their order of priority?

Answer 5

1. Direct
2. Teardrop
3. Parallel

Question 6

What airspeed should we be at and when, prior to entering a hold

Answer 6

We should be at 100 kts airspeed when within 3NM of the holding fix.

Question 7

Are left turns or right turns standard in holds?

Answer 7

Right turns are standard.

• If ATC does not specify left turns. Then right turns are to be assumed.

Question 8

How will you know if you are to make standard turns or left turn in a hold?

Answer 8

1. Turn as depicted on the chart if published
2. ATC will specify Left turns, otherwise right (standard) turns are assumed

Question 9

How should you perform turns when in a hold?

Answer 9

Turn at whichever allows the shallowest bank between..
1. Standard Rate
2. 30 degrees
3. 25 degrees if flight director is used

Question 10

What is standard hold timing?

Answer 10

Inbound leg:
- At or below 14,000 ft MSL = 1 min legs
- Above 14,000 ft MSL = 1.5 min legs

*unless otherwise specified by a chart or ATC

Question 11

What is standard hold length? (DME/GPS)

Answer 11

Inbound leg = 4 NM

*unless otherwise specified by a chart or ATC

Question 12

What weather phenomenon makes flying hold complicated?

Answer 12

Wind
- Correcting for the wind in order to stay in the protected area and achieve proper hold timing adds complications

Question 13

If your inbound hold leg is longer than 1 min, what should you do to adjust, what if its shorter?

Answer 13

If your inbound leg is too long:
- Shorten your outbound leg by 1/2 of the error
- You likely have a headwind on your inbound leg

If your inbound leg is too short:
- increase the timing of your outbound leg by 1/2 of the error
- You likely have a tailwind on your inbound leg

*Example: Inbound leg was 1:15 long. Decrease your outbound leg by 7 seconds ( fly 43 seconds)

Question 14

When do you start your timer when beginning the outbound leg of a hold?

Answer 14

1. When abeam the fix for the first outbound leg. Then on subsequent outbound legs, abeam the fix or when rolling wings level, whichever occurs last.
2. If abeam cannot be determined:
   • Start when ROLLING wings level

Question 15

How do you know when you are abeam the fix when performing a VOR or GPS hold?

Answer 15

When the TO/FM indicator flips and the bearing pointer points perpendicular

*its always a good idea to use the bearing pointer whenever possible as it aids in situational awareness.

Question 16

When should you start the timer on the inbound leg of a hold?

Answer 16

When ROLLING wings level on the inbound course

Question 17

What are the 5 T’s you should be working on when in a hold?

Answer 17

5 T’s of a Holding Procedure

Turn - to enter the hold and make required turns at appropriate times

Time - Start timer when needed

Twist - Twist the heading bug, tune OBS correctly (fly the inbound course with a TO indication!)

Throttle - Adjust for speed and altitude as needed. We do holds at 100kts

Talk - Let ATC know the time and altitude you initially reach the holding fix and when you leave the fix for the last time

Question 18

How should we handle wind correction on the outbound turn of a hold?

Answer 18

Note the amount of correction required to hold the inbound leg and TRIPPLE it for the outbound leg

*when there is wind involved, you will not be able to make a perfect racetrack pattern. But you should always stay on the protected side of the hold (turning side) and achieve your standard 1min or 4 NM legs

Question 19

What is the standard phraseology pattern ATC will use to issue you a hold?

Answer 19

1. “Hold as published”
   OR
   - One of 8 Cardinal directions relative to a fix
   - A specific radial/bearing/course/airway
   - Leg length (RNAV/DME
   - Direction of turns
   - Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time

*Example: “Lift 5570, hold east of the Shelbyville VOR on the 090 radial, expect further clearance 2030z”
(right standard turn)

Question 20

What should you do if you are within 5 mins of your EFC time, holding, and ATC has not issued a further clearance?

Answer 20

Query ATC

Question 21

What are your required holding calls to ATC?

Answer 21

1. Time and altitude you have reached the fix for the first time
2. Leaving the holding fix for the last time

*Example: “Indy approach, Lift 5550, holding at OZMOE, 1200z, 5,000”.

Question 22

Describe or draw how the holding entries relative to a holding fix. Hold east on the 090 radial.

Answer 22

1. Draw a line from the inbound leg all the way through the holding fix
2. Draw another line through the holding fix off set 70 degrees above the inbound course line you just drew

• Everything to the right of the vertically angled line (inbound leg side) is a Direct entry, everything to the upper left of the fix is a parallel entry, everything in the lower left quadrant is a teardrop entry

Question 23

How would you fly a Direct entry to a hold?

Answer 23

1. Fly straight to the fix remembering to slow to 100kts
2. When crossing the fix, turn and start your timer once you are abeam the fix

Question 24

How would you fly a Teardrop entry to a hold?

Answer 24

1. Fly straight to the fix remembering to slow to 100kts
2. Once you cross the fix, start a 1 min timer and set the HDG bug to -30 degrees from the inbound radial/course
3. Once 1 min has passed, turn inbound to intercept inbound course

Question 25

How would you fly a Parallel entry to a hold?

Answer 25

1. Fly straight to the fix remembering to slow to 100kts
2. Once you cross the fix, start a 1 min timer and turn to parallel the inbound course (flying opposite to inbound course).
3. Once 1 min has passed, turn to the HOLDING SIDE (protected side) of the fix and intercept the inbound course

*DO NOT make your step 3 turn to the NON-HOLDING side of the fix.
*During step 2, it is ok to fly slightly on the non-holding side of the fix. (unprotected side)

Question 26

What is important to remember when considering turns to intercept the inbound course when holding?

Answer 26

The closer you are to the fix, the larger intercept angle you will need in order to intercept the course BEFORE reaching the fix

• a common error in holding is reaching the fix before actually intercepting the inbound course.