Chris, an AviationChatter reader asked a great question about holding patterns:
I understand the hold entry, but what is killing me is trying to determine the “mental picture” of the actual racetrack when ATC says “Hold south on the 180 radial.” My heading is 155º in this example.
What does ATC saying “south” have to do with anything?
Well Chris, the compass direction “south” doesn’t have much to do with your holding pattern at all. It’s just extra language to clarify the hold and help you, the pilot, visualize the proper holding pattern.
