2StgTurbine

It is true that the AIM holding entry recommendations are only recommendations, but some important people in the industry treat the AIM as regulation. I know a couple of Des and an FAA examiner that would fail you if you did not enter the hold as the AIM recommends. There are some employers who also only want to see the AIM entries. The time you take now to perfect holding entries so you can comply with the AIM will make your life/career easier if you ever run into an AIM stickler.

Tweetdrvr

More things to make you scratch your head.

Last year during recurrent, I was handflying while the Capt was trying to build a short notice hold. We got to the fix before it was in the machine, so I did a direct entry. The guy running the sim, stopped us and asked what I had done. He then proceeded to show us what the Bus would have done with the same solution. We were just a little behind everyone else who had done the scenario ahead of us--i.e. they all had it built and coupled to the AP before they got to the fix, I was just AP and basic heading mode. What he had been used to seeing was a turn to parallel, eventhough it violated the AIM and the AF way of doing things. Turns out, I hate to admit, it made a prettier pattern when viewed from above. It didn't go to far to the non manuevering side, and rolled out inside the course on the manuevering side and corrected back with only a twenty degree intercept. The pattern he played back from what I had done doing it the correct by the AIM method showed us making a nearly 250 degree turn as we were right on the line for the direct technique/procedure and our outbound leg was very close to the inbound course, so when I turned inbound, it overshot and was a greater distance on the non manuevering side than what the FMS had done when it did a parallel. Makes you wonder.....

NoyGonnaDoIt

It is.

Check the PTS and see if you can find the reference to being required to use one of the recommended patterns (hint: there isn't one).

I found the reference I mentioned earlier. The April 1994 issue of AFS-600 Designee Update Vol. 6, No. 2,
"A quarterly publication designed to serve the Examiner, Designee, and
Instructor Community" has this to say:

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HOLDING PATTERNS

***

Another question frequently asked, "Must the pilot examiner test the applicant using the recommended holding pattern entry, or can the applicant use any desired method? In the past, an applicant would have been required to use one of the three recommended procedures; however, a change has occurred.

The January 6, 1994, issue of the AIM, page 5-3-7, paragraph (d), now states: "While Other entry procedures may enable the aircraft to enter the holding pattern and remain within protected airspace, the parallel, teardrop and direct entries are the procedures for entry and holding recommended by the FAA."

If an applicant elects to use holding pattern entry procedures other than those recommended by the FAA and, in doing so, remains within the holding pattern airspace to be protected, the procedure would be acceptable if accomplished safely.
==============================

16 years ago. Old habits die hard.

The "catch" in the context of the checkride is that while the use of other patterns is ok, the PTS does require that the applicant

==============================
Explains and uses an entry procedure that ensures the aircraft remains within the holding pattern airspace for a standard, nonstandard, published, or nonpublished holding pattern.
==============================

Not much to "explain" with the recommended patterns and probably easier for most applicants than the answer to, "So tell me, how does this entry you made up guarantee that you will remain unprotected airspace?" for a truly unique entry.

clipperskipper

Holding entries and procedure turns are are designated in order to keep you in protected
airspace. As stated above, holding entries are recommended in the AIM, and I can't really see a teardrop vs. parallel entry when on that dividing line with a choice between the two a failing item. I can see the DPE getting a little upset if you did a 90-270 entry, however if you made the turn inside protected airspace, is it a failing item?

KC10 FATboy

NoyGonnaDoIt has it right. Sure, the FAA entry procedures are "recommended", but they are designed to keep you safe and legal. Are you absolutely sure your made up procedure is going to keep you safe? How do you know?

A few years back, Air Force Flight Safety Magazine (FSM) had a very good article about this very subject. Now mind you, I grew up flying in the USAF. The USAF doesn't always get things correct when it comes to flying (don't even get me started); however, the FSM article explains WHY those procedures were created, and HOW unsafe you could be applying different techniques.

Basically, it all comes down to the design of the holding airspace which differs between the FAA and other agencies (ICAO, PANS OPS, etc.). Holding patterns created by the FAA are not very forgiving whereas overseas you have a larger safety margin. Holding airspace takes into consideration terrain of course, but also winds, altitude, and other constraints.

If you fly the "recommended" entry procedures, you remain safe. Otherwise, you're a test pilot that hasn't gone to test pilot school. And the FSM article showed in several instances where using the wrong entry CAN KILL YOU.

What scares me are the folks on here who admit to just doing whatever they want because it is easier than remembering those pesky recommended entry procedures. You are the type of person who doesn't belong in cockpits.

fly4michelle

I have a question about handflying a hold with a Garmin G1000 panel. Say you are tracking directly to a VOR for an issued hold. After you cross the VOR and begin your turn to start the hold entry---do you have to rotate the flight director knob to show the inbound radial or not. Example--if you are tracking on the 090 radial inbound(east to west) and you have been given holding instructions of hold south on the 180 degree radial. I understand you will have the heading indicator showing 270 at the top with a to indication going to the VOR and then after you cross the VOR and start the turn to hold---do you dial in 360(the inbound radial of the hold) or 180(the outbound holding side)? Just curious if the G1000 has reverse sensing.