At Angel Aviation, we know that staying put on command can be just as challenging as blasting through an approach. Holding procedures are the IFR equivalent of a time-out box: ATC needs you parked in a precise spot, on a precise course, at a precise altitude—while you keep everything trimmed, timed, and tidy.

Before your DPE ever asks for a hold, they’ll want to know: Can you brief, enter, and fly a hold—published or unpublished—without losing track of timing, wind correction, or situational awareness?

This guide covers Instrument Rating ACS Area IV: ATC Clearances & Procedures (Holding), showing you what to know, what the examiner will ask, and how to showcase mastery on checkride day.

🎯 What the Examiner Is Looking For

Under ACS Area IV your examiner expects you to:

  • Decode holding instructions and read them back accurately 
  • Select the correct entry method (direct, teardrop, parallel) 
  • Maintain course, altitude, & timing within standards 
  • Adjust leg timing & wind correction to stay on the protected side 
  • Comply with lost-comms, EFC, and fuel-reserve requirements 

🌀 Holding Clearance Basics

📚 Ref: AIM 5-3-7, FAA-H-8083-15B (IFH)

A full holding clearance includes FIX-DIRECTION-RADIAL/COURSE-ALTITUDE-EFC:

  1. Fix – where to hold 
  2. Direction – N/S/E/W of fix 
  3. Inbound course – radial, course, or bearing 
  4. Altitude – expect or maintain 
  5. EFC – expect-further-clearance time (if issued) 

DPE may ask:
 👉 “What does ‘hold east of the ABC VOR on the 090° radial, 4-mile legs, expect further clearance 15 minutes’ mean?”
 💡 Angel Tip: Copy every element in shorthand (e.g., ABC / E / 090 / 4 DME / 6000 / EFC 1515) before reading it back.

🛠️ Choosing Your Entry: The “Big Three”

Entry When to Use Key Action
Direct ±30° of outbound heading Turn direct outbound, start timer abeam/fix
Teardrop 30-150° toward protected side Fly 30° off the reciprocal for 1 min, then intercept inbound
Parallel 30-150° opposite protected side Fly outbound reciprocal for 1 min, turn toward protected side and intercept

DPE Scenario:
 “Given a clearance to hold southwest on the 240° radial, right turns—what’s your entry from a heading of 020°?”
 ✅ Be ready to draw (or visualize) and answer parallel.

⏱️ Timing & Wind Correction

  • Standard leg: 1-minute inbound at/below 14,000 ft; 1.5-minute above 
  • Start timing abeam the fix (or wings-level outbound if abeam cannot be identified) 
  • Correct outbound for wind triple the inbound correction (rule of thumb) 
  • Adjust each subsequent leg to nail a 1-minute inbound 

💡 Angel Pro Tip: Say the full cadence aloud—“Time, Turn, Twist, Throttle, Talk”—every entry to stay ahead of the aircraft.

📡 Published vs. Unpublished Holds

  • Published: Found on approaches, SIDs, STARs; use depicted direction, turns, speeds, leg length. 
  • Unpublished (ATC-assigned): Expect “5 NM legs” or “1-min legs”; if none given, default to 1-min. 

Speed limits (unless higher clearance issued):

  • 200 KIAS – MHA through 6,000 ft 
  • 230 KIAS – 6,001 – 14,000 ft 
  • 265 KIAS – 14,001 ft and above 

📞 Lost Comms & EFC Considerations

📚 Ref: §91.185

  • If you lose radios after receiving an EFC, depart the hold at that EFC and continue the flight plan altitude rules (AVE-F MEA). 
  • No EFC? Depart the hold upon reaching the clearance limit and ETA filed or last assigned. 

💡 Angel Tip: Know your fuel status—regulations require enough to fly to destination, shoot an approach, miss, and then 45 min at cruise.

🚨 Failure/Scenario Questions to Prep

Scenario What to Explain
Drift too far from fix due to wind How to correct outbound leg timing & intercept inbound
Forgot to slow before hold Published speeds, when to reduce power
Assigned non-standard turns How to brief left vs. standard right turns
Holding at DME fix vs. VOR Timing vs. distance legs

🧠 Questions You Might Get Asked

  • “How do you know when to start timing the outbound leg?” 
  • “What’s the maximum holding speed at 8,000 ft?” 
  • “If ATC says ‘hold as published’ on the ILS 14 approach, what exactly do you fly?” 
  • “Describe the wind correction you’ll use for today’s 25 kt crosswind.” 
  • “Where is the protected side of this hold?” 

📚 Key References to Know

  • AIM 5-3-7 – Holding Procedures 
  • Instrument Rating ACS – Area IV (Tasks: Holding) 
  • FAA-H-8083-15B IFH – Chapter on Holding Pattern Procedures 
  • §91.185 – IFR Lost Communications 

🧾 Final Thoughts from Angel Aviation

Holding isn’t busywork—it’s the precision dance that keeps traffic orderly when the system gets congested. Master the briefing, entry, timing, and corrections, and your examiner will see a pilot who can stay calm in the stack and keep the airplane inside the protected airspace.