Holding Pattern Entry Calculator
Use this holding pattern entry calculator to find the direct, teardrop or parallel entry for any hold from the inbound course, turn direction and your heading to the fix.
Uses the standard 70° sector line through the fix. Within about 5° of a sector boundary, either adjacent entry is acceptable.
For training and general informational use. Fly the hold as published and as cleared by ATC.
Work out the correct holding entry in seconds
When ATC clears you to hold, or a procedure ends in a hold, you must decide how to join the racetrack. There are three standard entries: direct, teardrop and parallel. The choice depends on where you arrive from relative to the holding course. This calculator applies the standard sector method and also gives the headings and leg timing for the entry it selects.
How to use it
- Enter the inbound course to the holding fix as published or as given in the clearance.
- Select right turns (standard) or left turns if the hold is published or cleared with left turns.
- Enter the heading you will be flying when you cross the fix.
- Enter the holding altitude to see the standard outbound leg time.
Method and calculation
A line is drawn through the fix at 70° to the inbound course, angled towards the holding side. It splits arrivals into three sectors. The direct sector covers 180°, the parallel sector 110° and the teardrop sector 70°. The calculator converts your heading into the bearing you arrive from, measures it relative to the inbound course and mirrors the result for left-hand holds.
Worked example and practical notes
Inbound course 270° with right turns and a heading of 030° to the fix: you arrive from the south-west of the fix, on the non-holding side, so the entry is parallel. Cross the fix, turn to 090° (the outbound heading) for one minute, then turn left back to intercept the inbound course.
Accuracy and practical tips
The entry is based on heading, not track, which is the usual training convention. In strong wind, apply wind correction to the outbound leg and adjust its timing so the inbound leg takes about one minute. Many pilots draw the hold on the chart or the heading indicator to cross-check the answer.
Based on the holding procedures in the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (section 5-3-8) and ICAO Doc 8168. Leg timing and speed limits vary by country; follow your national AIP.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Read the guide: Holding Pattern Entries Explained
Frequently asked questions
What are the three holding entries?
Direct, teardrop and parallel. Direct means turning straight onto the outbound leg after the fix. Teardrop means flying 30° off the outbound course on the holding side, then turning to the inbound course. Parallel means flying outbound on the non-holding side, then turning back towards the holding side to rejoin.
Is a holding entry mandatory?
The FAA and ICAO describe these entries as recommended methods. What matters is staying within protected airspace, which the standard entries are designed to do.
How long is the outbound leg?
One minute at or below 14,000 ft MSL and one and a half minutes above 14,000 ft, unless a distance or different time is published or assigned.
What if I am right on a sector boundary?
Within about 5° of the boundary, either of the two adjacent entries is acceptable.