What are Holding Patterns?
When controllers anticipate a delay at a clearance limit or fix, usually due to a high volume of traffic, weather, or both, pilots are usually issued a holding clearance. A holding pattern is a racetrack-shaped pattern positioned over an assigned fix. Entries to holding patterns are designed to transition you into the hold with a minimum of turning, while keeping you in protected airspace. For the instrument knowledge test you must know when to use the parallel, teardrop, and direct entries. On the flight test, and in real life, you may use any method that keeps you in the protected airspace, and we’ll cover some alternate entry methods in a minute. Holding pattern entries is one of the requirements every six months to maintain instrument proficiency.
Practice some IFR holding pattern interactive scenarios from Sporty's Instrument Rating course here>>