How to Determine the Holding Entry Procedure — A Visual Guide for IFR Pilots

Holding patterns are one of the most tested skills during instrument training — and one of the most common sources of confusion on checkrides. The good news: determining your entry procedure is straightforward once you learn the needle tail method.

This guide walks you through the three entry types, how to identify them using your course-selector needle, and the sector boundaries for both standard (right) and nonstandard (left) turns.

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The Three Entry Types

When approaching a holding fix, ATC expects you to enter the pattern using one of three procedures:

1. Direct Entry — fly directly to the fix and turn outbound in the holding direction
2. Parallel Entry — fly to the fix, turn to a heading parallel to the inbound course (but outbound), then return to the fix
3. Offset (Teardrop) Entry — fly to the fix, turn to a heading 30° offset from the outbound course into the holding side, then turn inbound to the fix

Each entry applies when you approach the fix from a specific sector. The question is: which sector are you in?

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The Needle Tail Method

Here's the technique that makes holding entries easy:

Set your course-selector (OBS) to the inbound course, then look at where the needle's tail points. The sector that contains the tail determines your entry.

That's the entire method. No mental gymnastics, no drawing on your kneeboard. Just set and look.

Why it works

The course-selector needle always points toward the inbound course. The tail points away from it — directly into the sector you're approaching from. Since the entry sectors are defined relative to the inbound course, the tail is a built-in sector indicator.

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Sector Boundaries

The sector boundaries differ depending on whether the holding pattern uses right turns (standard) or left turns (nonstandard).

Standard Holding (Right Turns)

Picture yourself at the holding fix, looking along the inbound course toward the fix:

Sector	Boundary	Entry
Offset (Teardrop)	From 12 o'clock to 70° right	Offset Entry
Parallel	From 12 o'clock to 110° left	Parallel Entry
Direct	The remaining sector (~180°)	Direct Entry

In other words, draw a line from the fix at 70° to the right of the inbound course and another at 110° to the left. These two lines divide the area behind you into three sectors.

Nonstandard Holding (Left Turns)

For left-turn holding patterns, the boundaries are mirrored:

Sector	Boundary	Entry
Offset (Teardrop)	From 12 o'clock to 70° left	Offset Entry
Parallel	From 12 o'clock to 110° right	Parallel Entry
Direct	The remaining sector (~180°)	Direct Entry

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Step-by-Step Example

Let's say ATC issues: "Hold southeast of LIBBY on the 135 radial, expect further clearance in 15 minutes."

1. Identify the inbound course: The 135 radial means you track inbound on 315° to LIBBY
2. Set your OBS to 315° (the inbound course)
3. Note your heading: Say you're flying 090° toward LIBBY
4. Look at the needle tail: The tail points behind you — roughly toward 270°
5. Determine the sector: With an inbound course of 315° and standard right turns, the offset sector extends from 315° (12 o'clock) to 70° right (025°). The parallel sector extends from 315° to 110° left (205°). Your needle tail at 270° falls in the parallel sector
6. Fly a parallel entry

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Common Mistakes

Confusing the inbound and outbound course. Always set the OBS to the inbound course — the heading you'll fly toward the fix, not away from it. If you're holding on a radial, the inbound course is the reciprocal of that radial.

Forgetting to mirror for left turns. In nonstandard holding patterns, the offset and parallel sectors swap sides. If you always default to right-turn boundaries, you'll pick the wrong entry when ATC assigns left turns.

Overthinking boundary cases. If you're right on the boundary between two sectors, either entry will work. Examiners know this — pick one and fly it confidently.

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Practice Makes Automatic

The needle tail method is simple in theory, but it needs to be automatic in the cockpit. When ATC issues a hold, you don't have time to think through sector diagrams — you need the entry type to be obvious at a glance.

The best way to build that skill is repetition. IFR Flight Simulator includes a dedicated holding pattern trainer that lets you practice entries from every angle, with both standard and nonstandard turns, at any fix worldwide. You can run through dozens of entries in the time it takes to set up a single hold in a full-motion sim.

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Quick Reference Card

Turn Direction	Offset Sector	Parallel Sector	Direct Sector
Right (standard)	12 o'clock → 70° right	12 o'clock → 110° left	Remainder
Left (nonstandard)	12 o'clock → 70° left	12 o'clock → 110° right	Remainder

Remember: Set OBS to inbound course → find the needle tail → that's your sector → that's your entry.

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Written by Tobias Maihoff — airline pilot and software engineer. I built IFR Flight Simulator because I believe IFR training doesn't have to be as painful or expensive as it often is. With the right preparation, student pilots can walk into every sim session and checkride confident and ready. That's what I'm trying to make easier.