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“Report established on hold” vs “report established on LOC”

Asked by: 3429 views FAA Regulations, Instrument Rating

I have got this issue on IR check ride. I fly to Delta airport for doing ILS approach. There was no published hold on FAF but controllers usually use FAF as holding point. Teardrop entry was expected, i asked Tower for ILS for training (there was no IFR flight plan), and he answered "..... report established on hold".

I have newer heard such instruction before, and it was stupid to ask DPE about. So i did common mistake: answered what i expected to hear: "Will report established on localizer".  And got "point" from DPE at the same time.

I reported "established on hold" when crossed fix on inbound leg. It was found out that tower had some student on pattern so he asked me to do one more circle on hold. I did, reported passing FAF, and last of the approach was uneventful. 

My question is when should I report "established on hold": when first time passed FAF entering holding pattern, or when I actually did it, on inbound leg? If I did it actually correct, what in this particular case was the difference between "established on hold" vs "established on localizer"?

1 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Sep 18, 2019

    >>what in this particular case was the difference between “established on hold” vs “established on localizer”?

    The main difference raised by your scenario is what the controller asked you to report.

    The FAA doesn’t have a formal definition on “established in the hold.” Most folks would consider being established in the hold as when you are established on the inbound course, although the Transport Canada AIM defines it as crossing the holding fix after the entry (I guess because with a parallel entry you might not intercept the inbound course until the second turn outbound).

    So you are fine with the time of your report. But not with the content. Established o the localizer may give the correct location, but that could mean you are expecting to descend for the approach, not remain in the hold.

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