UNIT SPOTLIGHT: Instrument Holds

You’ve certainly heard the saying, hurry up and wait. Even in aviation, unforeseen circumstances can sometimes delay your landing at an airport (one of the many reasons pilots are expected to carry more fuel than is technically needed for the duration of the flight). 

However perfectly you execute your IFR flight from Destination A to Destination B, there are times when ATC will direct you to enter a holding pattern before clearing you to descend and land, to help with aircraft separation, to avoid bad weather or low visibility, or for other reasons. Understanding weather reports like METARs and ATIS can help you anticipate holding patterns, especially in adverse conditions.

Holding patterns are also sometimes required as the published termination of a missed approach. 

And, of course, pilots themselves can request a hold if they need additional time to complete abnormal or emergency checklist procedures.

It can be a lot, especially if you’re training for your instrument rating. You need to know the purpose and reasons for a hold, the components (including the holding fix, inbound and outbound legs, and protected airspace), how to enter a hold (what pattern to use, what speed to fly before crossing the holding fix), and more. 

Using simple illustrations and question prompts, the HOLDS unit in ARSim will walk you through holding patterns, hold entries, and hold communications step by step. When you’re done, to misquote Kenny Rogers, you’ll know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. And you’ll build the kind of situational awareness that will make you a safe, proficient, and long-lived pilot. 

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