Parallel Entry to Holds

[somewhereupthere]

This is all based on no wind, 180 ktas, standard rate turns (which make for .95nm radius turns), and 1 minute legs.
So the straight legs of the hold are 3nm long.

White represents the fix and the holding pattern.
Red represents inbound to the fix.
Green represents a teardrop entry.
Blue represents a parallel entry.
Yellow represents the 80/260 entry.

I personally think a teardrop gives you more time to effectively orient yourself towards the fix (versus parallel) and figure out wind correction if not using the box.

ICAO recommends not using the 80/260 if there is any significant wind, instead they recommend the 45/180.

Ever wonder why course reversals on approaches are teardrop and not parallel in nature? At least I've never seen one like that.

 

[lightspeed]

I hate to be OCD, but lets face it, this whole thread is OCD.

The initial heading in a teardrop entry is 30 off the holding radial, not 45 degrees as your green line depicts. This probably explains why it extends so far on the holding side. Also, most approach course reversals are unrelated to teardrop or parallel entries. Although again you can do whatever you want, so long as you remain on the appropriate side of the course, approach course reversals first track a course outbound, and the 180 degree portion of the reversal is made to place the aircraft further away from the station and not closer in as in a parallel hold entry.

 

[somewhereupthere]

I hate to be OCD, but lets face it, this whole thread is OCD.

The initial heading in a teardrop entry is 30 off the holding radial, not 45 degrees as your green line depicts. This probably explains why it extends so far on the holding side. Also, most approach course reversals are unrelated to teardrop or parallel entries. Although again you can do whatever you want, so long as you remain on the appropriate side of the course, approach course reversals first track a course outbound, and the 180 degree portion of the reversal is made to place the aircraft further away from the station and not closer in as in a parallel hold entry.

I use the 45/180 in my example because that is the way I would fly a teardrop entry (assuming no wind). It is also how most procedure turns are flown, so it's just something that works for me.

In fact, using 180 ktas and a 30 degree offset I would need to extend my time 15 seconds before making the 180 turn back to the inbound course or risk overshooting, if making a standard rate turn. In fact if I rolled out parallel to the inbound course, I would be just about 1/3nm offset. I'd rather not overshoot, so using the 45 degree offset on the outbound works well if using 1 minute timing.

I agree with you on your comments regarding course reversals, however if I were personally flying a parallel entry, I would probably track the course outbound similar to a course reversal. Difference being I would extend the time (distance permitting) another 15 seconds or so. This would give me another 3/4 mile away from the station.

Also, you pegged exactly what I was thinking about why we never have seen a parallel sort of course reversal for an approach. It would place you further in, which is places you at a disadvantage for numerous reasons. It's not really brought up for any particular reason, other than being trivial.

Anyhow, blue is using the 30 degree offset outbound for 1 minute. Purple is using 1 minute with the 45 degree offset. Green is how I would fly a parallel entry tracking the outbound for 1:15, then making a turn to a 45 degree intercept of the inbound (no wind would intercept at about 1 mile from the fix).

But like you said.. it's getting very OCD, and I think in the end, most would agree that so long as you're on the holding side, exactly how you get into holding, so long as it is safe, is akin to skinning a cat.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH, i never said using any approved holding method was bad or good all iam saying is ATC DOSE NOT CARE HOW YOU GET THERE AS LONG AS YOU STAY ON THE BIG SIDE OF THE HOLDING PATTERN THERE IS LIMITED PROTECTECTION ON THE NON HOLDING SIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH TARMAC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I upset you. No one disagrees with that statement. I was just bringing it back to the topic. You know, "Parallel Entry to Holds".