ryguy

That is why I said he should use BOTH tools in my original post. When one has more experience they should have enough situational awareness to be able to use a fast method to figure out the hold. If you get into a sim for an airline interview and start drawing, chances are you won't have enough time to get it slowed, configured, and the correct entry within the amount of time given.

This is a forum for professional pilots and those that want to be. I'm going based on the assumption that the op fits in that category. In the real world (and I've done this all over the world) you will almost always get a direct anyway. The thing is, we are essentially giving the same advice. Slow it down and draw it until he has a good understanding. Sometime down the road he can use different methods to do it faster and/or back up his original answer. Once he is to that stage he'll be able to do it both ways in less than 10 seconds. Now is not the time for the tricks and we both agree on that.

Rebuilt

I recall ages ago shown ages ago a method using your hand. I am not sure if is is the same as the thumb method.

Using left hand for left turns, and right hand for right turns. Hold index and middle finger as is "V" for victory. The thumb was extended out and down. Place the index finger at the on your current heading. If the holding radial was in between the "V", then a teardrop entry. If between the index finger and thumb, then a parallel entry. Anywhere else, a direct entry.

I have memories of it being effective.

jsfBoat

This is how I do it, nothing worked for me, just remembered it this way. If you are inbound to the fix from behind; direct. In front it's either a parallel or teardrop. From the front: If inbound on the non-holding side, teardrop; parallel from the holding side in front of the fix. It's easy enough from me, since I can look at the chart of where I'm at, and where Im going. That's my method.

papatango269

I like to draw it and that's what I teach my students. Visualize it. I also show them alot of the other methods and tell them to see what works best for them. After you get enough experience you just see it and really don't have to think about it much. That's the way it was for me and I had a hell of a time with holds at first.

Papa t

ufgatorpilot

Thanks so much for all of the help!

NoyGonnaDoIt

btw, I came across this site discussed in another forum. Pretty good, especially if you don't want to either draw or stick body parts in places. - The ability to turn "north up" off and and click between the DG and the pattern diagram will let one see the relationship of the holding pattern to the DG. It's a relationship that some pilots will be able to use in the cockpit and some pilots use intuitively.

ufgatorpilot, you will still need to use "outbound course" rather than radial for a DME fix hold - that understanding is needed no mater what method you use.

JetPipeOverht

Best part of using both is you can teach both to your students and one of them is going to click. I actually found that I liked to draw it out in training, then when I instructed doing the same lesson 8 times a day the thumb method became quicker to teach in the actual plane. Always include options in your ' bag of tricks '