Enlighten me please, because my trusty Jepp book is really not right now. How do you determine which direction you hold in? As in inbound toward the fix or outbound from the fix? I get the whole right turn/left turn and different entries, but I just don't get why sometimes you hold toward the fix and other times not -

If the hold is published, I see the arrows and I can figure that out (Thank God!) but unpublished?! Sure, ATC will say "hold west of xyz on the xcv radial or DME" but WHICH FRICKIN WAY and WHY IF I AM INBOUND MIGHT I HAVE TO TURN BACK OUTBOUND?!

I'm obviously missing something very basic here, and I feel like such a dork for asking, but can someone please dumb it down for me?!

Thanks,
MHM

 

I'm sure you'll get several great answers in this thread complete with references, but the short answer is:

Holds terminate at fix inbound and are flown with right turns unless the controller specifically states left turns or the hold is published as a left pattern (and the controller gave a "hold as published" clearance).

Right turns are termed standard patterns, and left turns are termed non-standard. The reason for non-standard (left) patterns are to keep holding aircraft away from terrain, airspace, or other traffic otherwise it's a right pattern.

When you get a holding clearance, the controller will give you a quadrant and radial in the clearance - don't confuse this with standard and non-standard holds. For example "Hold West on the 270 degree radial" is the quadrant and radial, this is given to help the pilot orient where the holding should be conducted.

Standby, someone will be along shortly to straighten me out, in the meantime here are a few photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holding_%28aviation%29

 

Hey, if you have the option of flying over the weather, take it!

 

You never hold away from a fix, always towards it. An unpublished hold will be on a VOR radial or NDB bearing to or from the station. Radials are always from a VOR. But you can still hold on the VOR radial (or NDB bearing from) but inbound to the fix. Think of the holding radial as a line in space you need to be on. You can either be on the line inbound or outbound, but you would only HOLD inbound on the line, towards the fix.

 

THANK YOU!!!

The light bulb went off and I GET IT!

I appreciate your help!

Thanks again,
MHM