What is the holding airspeed?

What is the holding airspeed?

• A. 150 KIAS
• B. 180 KIAS
• C. 120 KIAS
• D. 100 KIAS

Answer: (A)

Holding airspeed is the speed you maintain in a published or assigned hold so you can safely execute the standard turn and stay in the protected airspace while awaiting clearance. For light general aviation aircraft, the standard holding speed used in most instrument procedures is 150 KIAS. This speed gives you a good balance: you have enough stored energy to complete the standard-rate turn (about 3° per second) without needing an excessive bank angle, you keep the hold radius reasonable, and you maintain a comfortable margin above stall. Going faster, like 180 KIAS, would make the hold radius larger and the bank angle needed for a 3°/s turn more awkward, which can complicate staying within the hold and can risk overspeed in lower altitude segments. Going slower, such as 120 or 100 KIAS, reduces the energy you have for turns and can make a standard-rate turn harder to maintain, also creating inefficiencies in the hold and increasing the time to establish or exit the hold. Therefore, 150 KIAS is the best choice for the holding airspeed.

Holding airspeed is the speed you maintain in a published or assigned hold so you can safely execute the standard turn and stay in the protected airspace while awaiting clearance. For light general aviation aircraft, the standard holding speed used in most instrument procedures is 150 KIAS. This speed gives you a good balance: you have enough stored energy to complete the standard-rate turn (about 3° per second) without needing an excessive bank angle, you keep the hold radius reasonable, and you maintain a comfortable margin above stall.

Going faster, like 180 KIAS, would make the hold radius larger and the bank angle needed for a 3°/s turn more awkward, which can complicate staying within the hold and can risk overspeed in lower altitude segments. Going slower, such as 120 or 100 KIAS, reduces the energy you have for turns and can make a standard-rate turn harder to maintain, also creating inefficiencies in the hold and increasing the time to establish or exit the hold. Therefore, 150 KIAS is the best choice for the holding airspeed.