Airman Certification Standards
ACS IR.III.B
Holding Procedures
Knowledge
Elements related to holding procedures, including reporting criteria, appropriate speeds, and recommended entry procedures for standard, nonstandard, published, and non-published holding patterns.
Risk Management
Recalculating fuel reserves if assigned an unanticipated expect further clearance (EFC) time.
Scenarios and circumstances that could result in minimum fuel or the need to declare an emergency.
Scenarios that could lead to holding, including deteriorating weather at the planned destination.
Holding entry and wind correction while holding.
Skill
Use an entry procedure appropriate for a standard, nonstandard, published, or non-published holding pattern.
Change to the holding airspeed appropriate for the altitude when 3 minutes or less from, but prior to arriving at, the holding fix and set appropriate power as needed for fuel conservation.
Recognize arrival at the holding fix and promptly initiate entry into the holding pattern.
a. Comply with the holding pattern leg length and other restrictions, if applicable, associated with the holding pattern
Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, selected headings within ±10°, and track a selected course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
Use proper wind correction procedures to maintain the desired pattern and to arrive over the fix as close as possible to a specified time.
Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position in relation to the desired flightpath during holding.
Comply with ATC reporting requirements and restrictions associated with the holding pattern.
Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate. 10
Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 17, 2026.