What this helper shows
This helper compares an arrival heading with the published inbound holding course and turn direction, then labels a standard entry as direct, parallel, or teardrop. It is intended to support ground study and review of the standard entry sectors. It does not replace the charted holding instructions or a pilot's judgment at the fix.
The entry describes how an aircraft transitions into the published racetrack pattern. All three entries are designed to get the aircraft established while remaining in the protected holding area when flown correctly. Wind, speed, turn performance, and the actual arrival track affect the path flown.
How to use the helper
Enter the inbound course in degrees, the aircraft's heading as it reaches the fix, and whether the published pattern uses right or left turns. Course and heading values use degrees clockwise from north. The URL retains the current values.
Use the course from the holding clearance or chart. Do not substitute the outbound course. Enter a heading representative of the arrival at the fix; if wind makes track and heading differ materially, the simplified sector result may not reflect the actual geometry.
The helper describes a common entry maneuver after classifying the sector. The teardrop description uses a 30-degree offset toward the holding side from the outbound course as a training convention. Timing, wind correction, and maneuver details may differ with the published procedure and instruction.
How the sector estimate works
The helper normalizes both headings and measures the shortest signed angular difference from the inbound course. Differences within 70 degrees are treated as a direct entry. For the remaining sectors, the selected turn direction distinguishes the parallel side from the teardrop side.
The sector boundary is an instructional simplification. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual describes holding procedures and entry methods in AIM 5-3-8. Review the current figure and text with the actual clearance. Do not treat a calculator's sector label as authorization to deviate from an assigned hold.
Entry types
Direct. Proceed to the fix and turn in the direction of the holding pattern to join the racetrack.
Parallel. At the fix, fly outbound on the nonholding side, parallel to the inbound course, then turn back toward the holding pattern to rejoin.
Teardrop. At the fix, fly outbound with an initial track offset toward the holding side, then turn back to intercept the inbound course.
These descriptions are brief study summaries. The AIM and an instructor provide the authoritative explanation of entry geometry and technique.
A useful study sequence
Before using the helper, identify the holding fix and write down the cleared inbound course and turn direction. Confirm whether the clearance also includes a radial, leg length, distance, or EFC time. Then compare the aircraft's arrival direction with the inbound course and inspect the relevant sector in the current AIM figure.
After identifying an entry, mentally trace the first turn and the direction of the outbound leg. This catches common reciprocal-course mistakes before practicing the maneuver on a chart or simulator. The helper can check the sector label, but it cannot confirm that a maneuver will remain inside protected airspace.
Common mistakes
The inbound course is the direction flown toward the fix on the inbound leg. The outbound course is its reciprocal. Entering the reciprocal by mistake rotates the sector assessment by 180 degrees and can produce a different suggested entry.
Do not infer the holding-side turn direction from a previous clearance or a chart symbol without checking the current instruction. A nonstandard pattern can use left turns. Also keep heading and track distinct: wind changes the path over the ground, while this helper uses the entered heading as a simplified arrival reference.
Assumptions and limitations
The calculation uses heading as a proxy for arrival direction and does not compute the aircraft's wind-corrected track. It does not model bank angle, turn radius, wind drift, leg timing, DME distance, nonstandard holds, or protected-area containment. Hold instructions can include a radial, course, leg length, turn direction, and altitude that are not represented by a three-sector label.
Use the entry appropriate to the actual clearance and applicable procedures. If a holding clearance is unclear, obtain clarification from ATC when practical. For training and reference only.
Sources and methodology
The sector conventions and holding procedures in this helper are based on the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, section 5-3-8. Follow current published holding instructions and the applicable clearance.
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