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Holding pattern entry calculator
Which way to join a hold, drawn on a diagram, with the headings to fly.
Your hold
The three entry sectors
ICAO divides the circle around the fix into three sectors, and the heading you arrive on decides which one you’re in. A line through the fix at 70° to the inbound course marks them out:
| Entry | Sector | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | 180° | Reach the fix and turn straight into the pattern. |
| Teardrop | 70° | Fly out 30° off the outbound heading, on the holding side, then turn back to the inbound course. |
| Parallel | 110° | Fly the outbound heading on the non-holding side, then turn back through more than 180° to the fix. |
You have 5° of freedom either side of a sector line, so close to a line either entry is acceptable. The calculator tells you when that applies.
Time and speed limits
ICAO sets the outbound time at 1 minute up to 14,000 ft and 1.5 minutes above that. Maximum holding speeds in normal conditions are:
| Level | Maximum speed |
|---|---|
| Up to 14,000 ft | 230 kt |
| Above 14,000 ft to 20,000 ft | 240 kt |
| Above 20,000 ft to 34,000 ft | 265 kt |
| Above 34,000 ft | Mach 0.83 |
Some countries differ: the United States, for example, uses its own speed table. Published charts and local rules always take priority, and turbulence or a particular procedure can change these figures.
Quick answers
How do you choose a holding pattern entry?
Compare your heading on reaching the fix with the inbound course. For a right-hand hold, a heading from 0° to 110° clockwise of the inbound course means parallel, 110° to 290° means direct, and the last 70° means teardrop. A left-hand hold is the mirror image.
What is a teardrop entry?
From the fix, you fly out 30° off the outbound heading, on the holding side, for the outbound time. You then turn in the direction of the hold to intercept the inbound course, which traces a teardrop shape.
What is a parallel entry?
From the fix, you fly the outbound heading on the side away from the hold. You then turn back through more than 180° towards the hold side, return to the fix and carry on into the pattern.
How long is the outbound leg of a hold?
Under ICAO rules, 1 minute up to 14,000 ft and 1.5 minutes above that, unless a chart gives a distance or different time. Pilots adjust the outbound leg for wind so the inbound leg comes out at the right length.
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For training and simulation only. These calculators are for learning and for games. Their results are automatic, and they don’t account for everything a real operation does. Never use them for real flight planning, navigation or air traffic control. Use your official charts, approved tools and procedures.
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