12.4 Holding Pattern Entry Procedures: Direct, Teardrop & Parallel
Key Takeaways
- The FAA recognizes three standard holding entry sectors based on the aircraft heading relative to the inbound course upon crossing the fix: Sector 1 (Parallel - 110 deg), Sector 2 (Teardrop - 70 deg), and Sector 3 (Direct - 180 deg), with a +/-5 deg buffer along boundaries.
- In a Direct Entry (Sector 3), the aircraft crosses the fix, turns directly to the outbound heading on the holding side, and establishes the standard racetrack circuit.
- In a Parallel Entry (Sector 1), the aircraft crosses the fix, turns to parallel the outbound course on the non-holding side for 1 minute, then turns into the protected holding side to intercept the inbound course back to the fix.
- In a Teardrop Entry (Sector 2), the aircraft crosses the fix, flies outbound on a 30 deg offset heading toward the holding side for 1 minute, and turns right to intercept the inbound holding course.
- An Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time is an essential safety item in every holding clearance; under 14 CFR 91.185 lost communication rules, the pilot must depart the holding fix at the EFC time to commence the approach or proceed on course.
Holding Pattern Entry Procedures: Direct, Teardrop & Parallel
Quick Answer: The three FAA holding entry sectors (AIM 5-3-8) are: Sector 3: Direct (180° arc) (turn directly outbound upon fix passage), Sector 1: Parallel (110° arc) (cross fix, parallel outbound on non-holding side for 1 min, turn left into holding side to intercept inbound), and Sector 2: Teardrop (70° arc) (cross fix, fly outbound on a 30° heading toward holding side for 1 min, turn right to intercept inbound). For non-standard left-hand holds, sectors are mirrored. An Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time is mandatory in all holding clearances; if two-way radio comms are lost (14 CFR § 91.185), the pilot must depart the holding fix at the EFC time to begin the approach.
When Air Traffic Control instructs an aircraft to hold at a fix, the aircraft may arrive from any direction. Because the protected airspace surrounding a holding pattern is strictly limited, entering the pattern incorrectly could cause the aircraft to wander into terrain, obstacles, or adjacent air traffic corridors.
To ensure containment, the FAA established standardized Holding Entry Procedures divided into three distinct geometric sectors.
The Three Standard Holding Entry Sectors (AIM 5-3-8)
Entry sectors are determined by the aircraft's magnetic heading relative to the inbound holding course at the exact moment of crossing the holding fix.
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| STANDARD HOLDING ENTRY SECTORS (RIGHT TURNS) |
| |
| Holding Side (Protected) |
| |
| ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐ |
| │ SECTOR 2: TEARDROP ENTRY (70°) │ |
| │ (Fly 30° offset into holding side for 1 min) │ |
| ├──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ |
| │ │ |
| │ SECTOR 3: DIRECT ENTRY (180°) │ |
| │ (Turn directly to outbound heading) │ |
| │ │ |
| ├───────────────────────────┬──────────────────┤ |
| │ SECTOR 1: PARALLEL (110°) │ [ HOLDING FIX ] │ |
| │ (Fly outbound non-holding)│ ▲ │ |
| └───────────────────────────┴────────│─────────┘ |
| │ |
| Inbound Course |
| (Aircraft Heading) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Sector | Name | Angular Span | Entry Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 1 | Parallel Entry | $110^\circ$ | Turn to parallel outbound heading on non-holding side for 1 min, turn left into holding side to intercept inbound course |
| Sector 2 | Teardrop Entry | $70^\circ$ | Fly outbound on a $30^\circ$ offset heading into holding side for 1 min, turn right to intercept inbound course |
| Sector 3 | Direct Entry | $180^\circ$ | Turn directly to the outbound heading on holding side and enter racetrack |
The ±5° Boundary Buffer Rule
- Entry sector boundaries are not razor-thin lines. Under AIM 5-3-8, a $\pm 5^\circ$ flexibility zone exists along each sector boundary.
- If an aircraft's arrival heading falls within $5^\circ$ of a sector dividing line, the pilot may legally choose either adjacent entry procedure.
Step-by-Step Execution of Standard (Right-Hand) Entries
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| STEP-BY-STEP ENTRY FLIGHT PATHS |
| |
| PARALLEL ENTRY (Sector 1) TEARDROP ENTRY (Sector 2) DIRECT (Sector 3) |
| |
| Non-Holding Side Holding Side Holding Side |
| ┌─────────────┐ ▲ ▲ |
| │ 1 Min Outbnd│ / / |
| │ ▼ / 30° Offset / Turn to |
| │ Turn Left to / Outbound (1 Min) / Outbound |
| │ Intercept Inbound / / Heading |
| ▲ │ / / |
| ────[●]────────────┘ ────[●] ────[●] |
| Fix Fix Fix |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1. Direct Entry (Sector 3 - 180°)
- Geometry: Covers the entire $180^\circ$ quadrant on the holding side.
- Procedure:
- Fly directly to the holding fix.
- Upon crossing the fix, turn immediately to the outbound heading on the holding side.
- Fly outbound for 1 minute (or DME distance), turn right $180^\circ$ to intercept the inbound course, and cross the fix a second time.
2. Parallel Entry (Sector 1 - 110°)
- Geometry: Covers the $110^\circ$ sector on the non-holding side.
- Procedure:
- Cross the holding fix.
- Turn to a heading that parallels the outbound course on the non-holding side.
- Fly outbound on this parallel heading for 1 minute (or specified DME distance).
- Turn LEFT (toward the protected holding side) — a turn of approximately $225^\circ$ — to intercept the inbound course back to the holding fix.
- Track the inbound course to cross the fix, then proceed around the standard right-turn circuit.
3. Teardrop (Offset) Entry (Sector 2 - 70°)
- Geometry: Covers the $70^\circ$ sector between the direct sector and the inbound course.
- Procedure:
- Cross the holding fix.
- Turn to a heading that forms a $30^\circ$ angle with the outbound course toward the holding side (e.g., if outbound course is $180^\circ$, fly heading $180^\circ - 30^\circ = 150^\circ$).
- Fly outbound on this teardrop heading for 1 minute (or specified DME distance).
- Turn RIGHT to intercept the inbound holding course back to the holding fix.
- Cross the fix and continue in standard holding.
Non-Standard (Left-Hand) Holding Pattern Entries
When ATC specifies "left turns" or the published approach/arrival chart indicates a left-turn holding pattern, the entire geometry is the exact mirror image of the standard pattern:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NON-STANDARD HOLDING ENTRY SECTORS (LEFT TURNS) |
| |
| Holding Side (Protected: LEFT) |
| |
| ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────┐ |
| │ SECTOR 2: TEARDROP ENTRY (70°) │ |
| │ (Fly 30° offset to LEFT side for 1 min) │ |
| ├──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ |
| │ │ |
| │ SECTOR 3: DIRECT ENTRY (180°) │ |
| │ (Turn directly LEFT to outbound heading) │ |
| │ │ |
| ├──────────────────┬───────────────────────────┤ |
| │ [ HOLDING FIX ] │ SECTOR 1: PARALLEL (110°) │ |
| │ ▲ │ (Fly outbound non-holding)│ |
| └────────│─────────┴───────────────────────────┘ |
| │ |
| Inbound Course |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
- Parallel Entry (Sector 1 - 110°): Flown on the right (non-holding) side. Turn RIGHT across the inbound course to intercept back to the fix.
- Teardrop Entry (Sector 2 - 70°): Flown on the left (holding) side at a $30^\circ$ offset angle (e.g., outbound $180^\circ + 30^\circ = 210^\circ$). Turn LEFT to intercept the inbound course.
- Direct Entry (Sector 3 - 180°): Turn left directly to the outbound heading upon fix passage.
Practical Cockpit Visualization Techniques
Under the high cockpit workload of an instrument flight, calculating entry angles mathematically can lead to confusion. Pilots utilize rapid visual methods using the Heading Indicator / Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI):
The Right Hand / Pencil Method on the Heading Indicator
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| RIGHT-HAND HEADING INDICATOR ENTRY RULE |
| |
| For Standard (Right-Turn) Holds: |
| 1. Look at your Heading Indicator / Directional Gyro. |
| 2. Place your right hand/thumb (or pencil) on the upper-right quadrant at the +70° |
| position from the top index (at approx. the 2 o'clock position). |
| 3. This divides your instrument into three sectors: |
| - Upper Right (0° to +70°): TEARDROP SECTOR |
| - Upper Left (0° to -110°): PARALLEL SECTOR |
| - Lower Half (-110° to +70° across bottom): DIRECT SECTOR |
| 4. Find the OUTBOUND holding heading on the glass: whichever sector contains the |
| outbound heading dictates your entry! |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
ATC Holding Clearances & Expect Further Clearance (EFC) Times
An ATC holding clearance contains specific standardized components:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ANATOMY OF AN ATC HOLDING CLEARANCE |
| |
| "Cessna 4321P, HOLD EAST of the MERIT INTERSECTION on the ZERO-NINER-ZERO RADIAL, |
| FIVE-MILE LEGS, LEFT TURNS, EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE AT ONE-FOUR-THREE-ZERO ZULU." |
| |
| 1. Direction of hold from fix: EAST |
| 2. Holding Fix: MERIT INTERSECTION |
| 3. Radial / Course / Airway: 090 RADIAL |
| 4. Leg Length (if DME/RNAV): 5-MILE LEGS |
| 5. Turn Direction (if non-standard): LEFT TURNS |
| 6. EFC Time: 1430Z |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The Vital Importance of the EFC Time
- The Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time is the single most critical safety element in a holding clearance.
- If an aircraft enters holding and suffers a catastrophic two-way radio failure, the EFC time establishes the exact moment the pilot is authorized to leave the holding fix.
- Controller Duty: If holding delay is expected to exceed the original EFC time, controllers must issue an updated EFC time at least 5 minutes prior to expiry.
Lost Communications Procedures in Holding (14 CFR § 91.185)
Under 14 CFR § 91.185(c), if two-way radio communications are lost while holding in IMC, pilot actions depend on whether the holding fix is an Initial Approach Fix (IAF):
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| LOST COMMUNICATIONS IN HOLDING (14 CFR § 91.185) |
| |
| Is the Holding Fix an Initial Approach Fix (IAF)? |
| │ |
| ┌───────────────┴───────────────┐ |
| ▼ YES ▼ NO |
| [ HOLDING FIX IS AN IAF ] [ HOLDING FIX IS NOT AN IAF ] |
| • If EFC Received: • If EFC Received: |
| Depart holding fix at EFC Depart holding fix at EFC time, proceed to an IAF, |
| time and commence approach. and commence approach. |
| • If NO EFC Received: • If NO EFC Received: |
| Depart holding fix at filed Proceed immediately to an IAF upon reaching the |
| ETA (as amended with ATC) clearance limit, hold until filed ETA, and commence |
| and commence approach. approach. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Lost Comms Altitude Selection (14 CFR § 91.185(b))
Fly the HIGHEST of the following three altitudes for the segment being flown:
- M - Minimum IFR Altitude (MEA / MOCA / MVA)
- E - Expected Altitude (altitude ATC told you to expect in a further clearance)
- A - Assigned Altitude (last altitude assigned by ATC)
You receive a clearance to hold East of the CAPITOL VOR on the 090 degree radial, right turns. You arrive over the VOR on a magnetic heading of 150 degrees. Which entry procedure is recommended under AIM 5-3-8?
When executing a teardrop entry into a standard (right-turn) holding pattern, what outbound heading should be flown relative to the outbound holding course?
While holding in IMC at an Initial Approach Fix (IAF) with an Expect Further Clearance (EFC) time of 1615Z, your aircraft suffers a complete two-way radio failure at 1600Z. What action must you take under 14 CFR § 91.185?