How much protected airspace (hold)?

[a-v-8er]

While in a standard holding pattern how much protected airspace do you have? Holding side, non-holding side... distances (nm), other criteria?

I assume this could be found in the TERPS, but since I don't carry a reference like that around with me and can't seem to find the answer. Anyone care to try?

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

Good question. I know it's a pretty basic instrument question, but I don't know the answer for sure. Perhaps you should post this same question in the FARs section of this message board. I bet someone there would know.

PS: I'm going to start the guessing at 1 mile on the unprotected and 3 on the protected. Do I hear 1/2 and 3? 1 and 5? Anyone?

 

[highflying]

I will try 8 on the protected and 4 on the non protected side

 

[nosehair]

Yeah, that's close to my guess. I used to know exactly, but that was many years ago when holding was a reglar routine, along with position reports. This was before radar. Anyway it's a bunch of airspace. For a 90 - 120 knot airplane. And it actually depends on the airplane catagory (or speed - I forgot) That's why in the AIM, you will see a chaart of max speeds for holding, and variations thereof. This is what the controller uses for airspace allotment. Basicly, I think it is a total of ten miles wide - 6 on the holding side and 4 on the non-side for the slowest speed of 200 knots. Obviously, you couldn't make an almost 180 turn in 1 or 2 miles at 200K.

 

[a-v-8er]

Same topic discussed in the General section with more info:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26111

 

[English]

Here's the link to the TERPS website....


http://av-info.faa.gov/terps/directives page.htm