Common Holding Errors

Its common for a student with whom Im flying for the first time to ask if he/she needs to fly a full turn around the holding pattern, or if its okay to continue inbound on the approach once intercepting the inbound course. Controllers expect you to continue inbound from the hold entry without flying a complete circuit of the holding pattern. Its not a hard-and-fast rule, but courtesy demands telling controllers you will not continue inbound and will instead circle in the hold if for any reason youre not ready to continue inbound immediately from the hold entry.

Key Takeaways:

• When entering a holding pattern as part of an approach, pilots are generally expected to proceed directly inbound once established on course without completing a full circuit, but must notify ATC if they need to circle due to readiness issues.
• Common errors in holding patterns include confusing inbound and outbound headings, and incorrect timing of the outbound leg, which officially begins after leveling from the turn or when opposite the holding fix (whichever is later).
• Pilots flying the outbound leg of a holding pattern should note that it often lacks ground-based navigation, potentially requiring them to fly a heading parallel to the inbound course, especially when not utilizing GPS.

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