Holding Procedures

Holding Procedures

Description

Holding is a predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from ATC. A standard holding pattern uses right turns, and a nonstandard holding pattern uses left turns. The ATC clearance will always specify left turns when a nonstandard pattern is to be flown.

Some notes on holding and correcting for wind. The FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook AC 61-27C published in 1980 states that you double the outbound correction in the opposite direction of your inbound wind correction. However the newer version of the same book, Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15 states that you triple it. The latest online version (as of May 4 2012) does not say anything at all about the amount of wind correction.


InstLP, CFIILP
Detailed Information
Detailed Description
In a standard holding pattern with no winds, the aircraft follows the specified course inbound to the holding fix, turns 180° to the right, flies a parallel straight course outbound for 1 minute, turns 180° to the right, and flies the inbound course to the fix.
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