Holding Procedures....

[pilot602]

This is why pilot's get the chicks right?

Haha, anyway I was wondering if anyone can offer up any advice for the aspiring instrument pilot. I'm just starting holding procedures and it is going ok but I'm getting tripped up on what type of entry procedure to execute (e.g. - teardrop, parallel, direct). My flight instructor said that for him he usually used to draw it out then he was able to visualize. He said that there are some tricks that some pilots do with heading bugs and what not to figure out how to enter a hold. Does anyone know these type of tricks or can anyone offer any general advice?. Thanks

Draw it out (after awhile you can just do it your head while looking at the plate).

I use the rule:

1) If you can proceed direct to the fix without turning (a large amount) it's a direct entry.
2) If you cross the fix then have to turn left to stay in protected airspace its a parallel entry.
3) If you have to cross the fix and then turn right to stay in protected airspace its a teardrop.

Although most parallel entries can be teardropped anyway but all that matters is you stay in protected airspace.

 

[jrh]

It will matter on a job interview.

I never said it wouldn't.

My response was to a post talking about flying in the real world. Some people think they will either run into the side of a mountain or have a controller yell at them if they screw up an entry. That just isn't the case.

Pilots need to know the entries for checkrides, interviews, and to fly as efficiently as possible. But what will happen if they screw up in the real world? Not much.