Hold (aviation)
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A hold is an aeronautical maneuver that keeps an aircraft in a predetermined safe area while waiting for a clearance, weather, traffic, or any other delays.
The holding pattern
A standard holding pattern is shaped like an oval racetrack. After entering the hold, an aircraft usually flies for one minute inbound to a holding fix, performs a standard-rate right turn, flies outbound for a length of time so that the next inbound leg will also equal one minute, and then makes another turn inbound and proceeds back to the holding fix. These times are standard, but not ironclad; ATC can assign a hold with legs of any length of time. Additionally, aircraft with distance measuring equipment may be assigned holds with legs defined in nautical miles rather than minutes.
Hold entry
The entry to a hold is often the hardest part for a novice pilot to grasp. There are three standard types of entries: direct, parallel, and teardrop.
- A direct entry is exactly what it sounds like: the aircraft flies directly to the holding fix, and immediately begins the first turn outbound.
- In a parallel entry, the aircraft flies to the holding fix, parallels the inbound course for one minute outbound, and then turns back, flies directly to the fix, and proceeds in the hold from there.
- In a teardrop entry, the aircraft flies to the holding fix, turns into the protected area, flies for one minute, and then turns back inbound, proceeds to the fix and continues from there.
Speed limits
Maximum holding speeds are established in order to keep aircraft within the protected holding area during their one-minute inbound and outbound legs. For civil aircraft (not military) in the United States, these airspeeds are:
- At 6,000' MSL and below: 200 knots
- From 6,001' to 14,000' MSL: 230 knots
- At and above 14,001' MSL: 265 knots
With their higher performance characteristics, military aircraft have higher holding speed limits.
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