Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

The Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with holding procedures solely by reference to instruments.


Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan Introduction

  • Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Holding Pattern Fundamentals:
    0:15
    Part 3, Holding CLearances:
    0:20
    Part 4, Aircraft Holding Procedures:
    0:20
    Part 5, Risk Management:
    0:20
    Part 6, Aircraft Holding Procedures Practical Application:
    0:20
    Part 7, Aircraft Holding Procedures Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 8, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research a mishap case study:
      • .
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario

  • Motivator:


Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan Materials


Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Holding Pattern Fundamentals:
    • Introduce purpose of holding (delay, sequencing, clearance limit).
    • Explain protected airspace concept.
    • Introduce holding pattern components: Fix, Inbound leg, Outbound leg, Standard vs non-standard turns.
    • Discuss timing: 1-minute inbound (≤14,000’), 1.5-minute inbound (>14,000’).
  • Part 3, Holding Clearances:
    • Discuss elements: Fix, Direction, Course, Leg length, EFC time.
    • Provide sample clearances for students to depict on map.
    • State expected actions if clearance is incomplete.
    • Discuss holding at clearance limit.
    • Discuss actions if no further clearance received.
    • Discuss lost comm logic to holding (procedural vs. positive control).
  • Part 4, Aircraft Holding Procedures:
    • Introduce entry procedures: Direct, Parallel, and Teardrop.
      • Using example clearances, have student choose entry with explaination.
    • Introduce wind correction and timing:
      • Wind effect on inbound/outbound legs.
      • Timing adjustments to maintain inbound leg.
      • Discuss: Triple drift correction concept (outbound).
      • Have student: Predict wind effect on hold shape and explain how to adjust timing and heading.
    • Introduce holding airspeeds:
      • Introduce maximum holding speeds by altitude.
      • Connect why speed affects protected airspace.
    • Introduce holding pattern exit.
    • Introduce holding common errors.
  • Part 5, Risk Management:
    • Loss of situational awareness.
    • Airspace deviation.
    • Task saturation (also, not staying ahead of aircraft).
    • Simple hold vs high-workload IFR environment.
    • Identify when holding becomes high risk (environmental, phase of flight, fatigues, day/night).
  • Part 6, Aircraft Holding Procedures Practical Application:
    • Consider holding in training airspace before moving to controlled IFR environment.
    • Provide holding clearance (if not provided).
    • Require correct readback.
    • Brief and conduct correct type of holding entry.
    • Ensure direct intercept to holding fix.
    • Monitor course tracking, timing, altitude, and worklaod management during initial and subsequent holding laps.
    • Provide subsequent clearance to exit holding.
  • Part 7, Holding Procedures Guided Scenario(s):
    • .
  • Part 8, Lesson Conclusion:
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)

  • What happens to the AOA if while in straight-and-level flight, a pilot pushes forward on the control stick, pulls backward?
  • What happens to the AOA if while in straight-and-level flight, a pilot pushes forward on the throttle? pulls backward?
  • What factors can the pilot control to change the amount of lift an aircraft has? Weight? Thrust? Drag?
  • The pilot is ready to taxi, applying power to start moving
    • What must the pilot do with the power after the aircraft starts moving?
    • What principle requires the pilot to change the power setting?
  • After completing a weight and balance, the pilot realizes the aircraft is within tolerance, but the center of gravity tends aft
    • How should the pilot expect stall speed to change? What if the center of gravity tends forward?
    • Why does a heavy aircraft requires more takeoff distance? Can a pilot do anything to shorten this disance? If so, what? and at what cost?
  • The pilot mounts a weather radar pod on the wing, what type of drag can be expected?
    • The interaction between the pod and the natural form of the wing is considered what kind of drag?
    • The wing it is mounted has several imperfections, rivets, etc. what kind of drag is characterized by these features?
    • What sort of performance changes would be expected by such a modification?
  • As an aircraft is accelerating down the runway, it is actually increasing it's drag, how is this possible?
  • While in the traffic pattern, the pilot finds themselves "behind the power curve." what does this mean?
  • While landing, the pilot experiences what feels like a cushion of air beneath the wings. What is this phenomena?
    • When could the pilot expect to feel this cushion?
    • What is causing this anomaly?
  • What forces are changing when a pilot initiates a climb (or descent)?
    • What is the relationship between forces as the pilot establishes steady-state climb (or descent)?
  • How can a pilot increase/decrease rate and radius of turn to hit a specific reference? (relate to a car, as required).

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan Student Actions


Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating - Holding Procedures Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:

Instrument Rating - Holding Procedures Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:

  • IR.III.B.R1:

    Recalculating fuel reserves if assigned an unanticipated expect further clearance (EFC) time.

  • IR.III.B.R2:

    Scenarios and circumstances that could result in minimum fuel or the need to declare an emergency.

  • IR.III.B.R3:

    Scenarios that could lead to holding, including deteriorating weather at the planned destination.

  • IR.III.B.R4:

    Holding entry and wind correction while holding.

Instrument Rating - Holding Procedures Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skills to:

  • IR.III.B.S1:

    Use an entry procedure appropriate for a standard, nonstandard, published, or non-published holding pattern.

  • IR.III.B.S2:

    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.

  • IR.III.B.S3:

    Recognize arrival at the holding fix and promptly initiate entry into the holding pattern.
    • IR.III.B.S3a:
      Comply with the holding pattern leg length and other restrictions, if applicable, associated with the holding pattern.

  • IR.III.B.S4:

    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).

  • IR.III.B.S5:

    Use proper wind correction procedures to maintain the desired pattern and to arrive over the fix as close as possible to a specified time.

  • IR.III.B.S6:

    Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position in relation to the desired flightpath during holding.

  • IR.III.B.S7:

    Comply with ATC reporting requirements and restrictions associated with the holding pattern.

  • IR.III.B.S8:

    Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating Holding Procedures Lesson Plan Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • With a foundation on the requirements to meet certification standards, students can envision a path to certification completion.

  • Closure:

    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson