In this lesson you'll learn about flying a holding pattern at a VOR station.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
20 minutes
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
Complete the Student and Private Pilot lessons before beginning this lesson. Reading the Ground School material before starting this lesson will help you better understand the skills being taught. You should also complete the reading and practice in the Instrument Scan solo lesson. Completing the VOR or ILS approach lessons is not required. You may also want to complete the holding pattern solo lessons soon after taking this lesson to learn more about the three ways of entering a holding pattern.
THE WEATHER
You'll encounter mostly cloudy conditions with some rain. You will need to fly the aircraft referring only to the instruments.
RECOMMENDED CHARTS
No charts are needed for this lesson. However, the Snohomish County Airport VOR approach chart may be helpful reference. Note that it helps provide frequencies and orientation information, but does not show the track of your holding pattern.
ABOUT THE FLIGHT
You'll start this flight in the air at 4000 feet. You will enter a holding pattern, make a complete circuit, and then continue practicing the holding pattern as long as you want. (Press Escape when you want to end the lesson.) Your instructor will help you set the navigation radios and instruments.
You will need to use either the aircraft clock or another timing device for the timed portion of the holding pattern.
KEY COMMANDS TO REMEMBER
Shift + 3 to bring up the GPS unit
FLIGHT CRITERIA
You'll be asked to maintain:
- Airspeed within 10 knots as assigned
- Altitude within 100 feet as assigned until established on the glide slope.
- Headings within 10 degrees as assigned
- Bank within 10 degrees of a standard rate turn, referenced by the Turn and Bank Indicator