When the airspace ahead is busy or the weather is below minimums, air traffic control may ask an aircraft to hold: fly a racetrack pattern over a fix until it can continue. Flying the hold is straightforward. Getting into it correctly is where student pilots struggle. This guide explains the three holding pattern entries.
Anatomy of a holding pattern
- Holding fix: a VOR, NDB, waypoint or DME fix where the pattern is anchored.
- Inbound leg: flown toward the fix on the published inbound track.
- Turns: standard holds use right turns; non-standard holds use left turns and are stated in the clearance or on the chart.
- Outbound leg: timed (ICAO: 1 minute at or below 14,000 ft and 1½ minutes above) or defined by a DME distance.
The three entries
The entry depends on the aircraft's heading as it arrives at the fix, compared with the inbound track. ICAO divides the area around the fix into three sectors, with a tolerance of 5° on either side of the sector boundaries.
Direct entry (sector 3, 180°)
The aircraft arrives from the holding side. On reaching the fix, it simply turns in the direction of the hold and follows the pattern. It is the largest sector and the simplest entry.
Parallel entry (sector 1, 110°)
The aircraft arrives from the non-holding side, roughly along the inbound track from beyond the outbound end. On reaching the fix it turns onto the outbound heading and flies parallel to the inbound track on the non-holding side for the outbound time. Then it turns toward the holding side to intercept the inbound track or return to the fix.
Teardrop or offset entry (sector 2, 70°)
The aircraft arrives in the small sector on the holding side near the inbound track. On reaching the fix it flies outbound on a track 30° offset from the reciprocal of the inbound track, on the holding side. After the outbound time, it turns in the direction of the hold to intercept the inbound track.
Watch: the thumb method
Drawing sector diagrams in the cockpit is not practical. Many instructors teach a visual trick using your hand and thumb to identify the entry sector quickly. This reel walks through a worked example of a standard hold on the 090° radial:
Tips for the instrument rating
- Read back the hold clearance: fix, radial or track, turn direction, leg length and expected further clearance time.
- Slow to holding speed before reaching the fix.
- Use wind correction on the outbound leg (roughly three times the inbound drift) so the inbound turn lands on the track.
- Adjust the outbound time so that the inbound leg comes out at the correct length.
- When in doubt between two entries near a boundary, either is acceptable within the 5° tolerance.
Holding procedures appear in DGCA Air Regulations and Radio Aids papers and in every instrument rating checkride.
Train with X Aviate
X Aviate International Aerospace prepares students for DGCA pilot licences, airline careers and aviation degrees in Chennai. See our pilot training and CPL / IR / ME programs, watch more explainers on our podcast & reels page, or call +91 96000 04836 to speak to our counsellors.