Holding entries are one of the topics candidates dread most — and one of the ones that actually trips people up on the exam. Not because the concept is hard, but because most people learn it wrong the first time and then struggle to unlearn it. Here's how it actually works.
The three entry types
When you arrive at a holding fix, the entry you fly depends on the angle at which you arrive relative to the holding pattern's inbound course. There are three entries: direct, parallel, and teardrop.
How to determine the correct entry
The method that works consistently: at the fix, face the holding inbound course. The holding turns happen on one side — standard patterns are right-hand turns, so the holding side is to your right.
Draw or visualize a line through the fix along the inbound course. Everything behind you and to the right is the holding side. Everything to the left is the non-holding side.
- You're arriving from the left (non-holding side): direct entry
- You're arriving from the right rear (holding side, behind 30° of outbound): parallel entry
- You're arriving from the right front (holding side, within 30° of outbound): teardrop entry
Why this trips people up on the exam
The INRAT doesn't give you a diagram. It gives you a holding clearance — a fix, an inbound course, turn direction, and your current heading — and asks you to identify the correct entry. You have to work it out mentally.
Two things cause errors almost every time. The first is confusing the inbound course with the outbound. The holding inbound course is what you fly toward the fix; the outbound is 180° from that. Questions will test whether you've kept them straight.
The second is forgetting to account for non-standard (left-hand) holding patterns. If the clearance specifies left turns, the holding side flips. The geometry is the same — you're just mirroring it.
How to actually learn this
Reading about holding entries isn't enough. You need to work through scenarios until the process is automatic. Take a heading, pick a holding course, determine the sector, identify the entry — repeat until you can do it in under ten seconds without drawing anything.
The TP 691E covers holding procedures in detail with diagrams. Read it first, then drill with practice questions that force you to apply the geometry. Holding entries are one of the 13 INRAT categories where passive reading genuinely doesn't translate to exam performance.
What holding questions look like on the exam
A typical question gives you a holding clearance and asks which entry to fly. Some questions add complexity: non-standard turns, a holding fix that's a VOR radial intersection, or arrival from an airway that doesn't align neatly with any sector. The concept doesn't change — but you need the geometry solid enough to apply it to any scenario, not just the textbook examples.
Aim for 80%+ on holding questions specifically before you book. It's a category where a few wrong answers can drag your overall score below the threshold.
Drill holding entries until they stick
Practice questions across all 13 INRAT categories, including holding. Timed exam mode, AI explanations for every answer.
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