FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Navigation and ATCMedium
An aircraft is cleared to hold at a fix on a bearing of 090° inbound, with right turns. The aircraft is approaching the fix from the northwest on a heading of approximately 135°. Which holding pattern entry procedure should the pilot use?
- AParallel entry
- BOffset entry
- CDirect entry
- DTeardrop entry
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Teardrop entry
With an inbound course of 270° (reciprocal of 090°) and right turns, the holding pattern is divided into sectors. An aircraft approaching from the northwest on a 135° heading falls within the teardrop entry sector (roughly the area between the outbound course and 110° offset), requiring a teardrop entry: fly to the fix, turn to parallel outbound with a 30° offset, then turn to intercept the inbound course.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Parallel entry applies to the sector roughly opposite the holding side.
- B. Offset entry is not a standard holding pattern entry category.
- C. Direct entry applies when approaching within the sector nearly aligned with the inbound course.
Holding Pattern Entries
Three standard entry procedures—direct, teardrop, and parallel—are used depending on the aircraft's approach angle relative to the holding course.
- Direct: enter turning directly onto the pattern
- Teardrop: fly a track 30° from outbound, then turn inbound
- Parallel: parallel the inbound course outbound, then turn to intercept
Memory trick: Direct-Teardrop-Parallel, split the circle in three like a pie