Procedures & holding

010 Air LawChapter 6

Schematic

Entry sector depends on heading relative to holding fix — direct, parallel, or teardrop.

SIDs and STARs

Key fact

SID — Standard Instrument Departure; published to ensure terrain/obstacle clearance and ATC flow. Pilot must comply unless otherwise cleared.

Key fact

STAR — Standard Terminal Arrival Route; links en-route to approach. Descent on STAR only with ATC clearance.

Approach categories (minimums)

Cat	Speed (VREF)	Typical DA/H
A	under 91 kt	Lowest
B	91–120 kt
C	121–140 kt
D	141–165 kt
E	166–210 kt	Highest

Key fact

Approach category determined by 1.3 × VSO (or VREF) at maximum certificated landing weight. Use higher category if circling or missed approach requires.

PANS-OPS (Obstacle clearance)

Key fact

Primary area — full obstacle clearance (MOC). Secondary area — reduced MOC, linearly reduced to zero at outer edge. Buffer area — no obstacle clearance guarantee.

Key fact

Turning segment — bank up to 25° (or 15° if less than 60 kt IAS). Wind — 95% probability wind applied for drift calculations.

Holding patterns

Key fact

Standard holding — right turns. Non-standard — left turns (marked on chart). Inbound track — specified; 1 min legs below 14 000 ft, 1.5 min at/above 14 000 ft.

Key fact

Maximum holding speed by altitude:

Altitude	Max IAS
≤ 14 000 ft	230 kt
14 000–20 000 ft	240 kt
20 000–34 000 ft	265 kt
> 34 000 ft	M0.83

Exam trap

Entry type depends on heading on arrival at fix, not position alone. Direct = within 70° of outbound. Parallel = within 70° of inbound from non-holding side. Teardrop = remaining sector.

Missed approach

Key fact

Missed approach begins at DA/DH or MAPt. Climb at minimum gradient (typically 2.5% for cat I). Do not turn until passing MAPt unless otherwise specified.