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:

• Controllers expect pilots to continue inbound immediately from a holding pattern entry; always communicate if unready to proceed and need to complete a full circuit.
• Common IFR errors in holding patterns include confusing inbound and outbound headings, which can be prevented by visualizing the pattern in context.
• The outbound leg of a holding pattern may lack ground-based navigation guidance without GPS, and timing for this leg starts when wings are level from the turn or positively opposite the fix, whichever is later.

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