The

1
The Mercedes Benz Technique for Holding Entry

• Uses familiar 70 Technique, but applies it
  to outbound heading vs inbound course
• Allows pilot to visualize entry using HSI vs
  mental math!
• Easy turn direction decision after last-minute
  adjustments to fix-to-fix

Key to using this technique is visualizing the
Mercedes Benz symbol on the HSI using the
90 indexes to create 3 quadrants. These
quadrants determine turn direction when reaching
the holding fix. The first quadrant will always
be left turns the next will always be right
turns the lower quadrant will always be
direction of holding. Since direction of
holding can only be left or right, that quadrant
can be dissolved into the appropriate left or
right quadrant.
LT
RT
20
20
DH
70
70
For a standard, right-hand holding pattern
?
?
B

• The first step is to proceed directly to the
  holding fix.
• Your aircraft heading is read under the lubber
  line at
• the top of the HSI.
• Place your heading bug on the outbound
• headingthis is where you will be turning to
• once crossing the fix.
• Your turn direction is determined by which
  quadrant
• your heading bug falls into when crossing the
  fix.

A
R090
Holding course 270
?
C
Example A Acft heading 135 Turn direction
LEFT to parallel
Example B Acft heading 225 Turn direction
RIGHT
Example C Acft heading 360 Turn direction
RIGHT
360
HDG Bug 090
2
For teardrop entries, you must determine if you
are conveniently aligned with your selected
teardrop course. AFMAN 11-217 gives us plenty of
discretion to determine if you are conveniently
aligned, but a basic guide is 45. This means if
your aircraft heading is within 45 of the
selected teardrop course, you may elect to
teardrop. Using our Mercedes Benz setup, you can
quickly determine if you are within 45 of a
maximum 45 teardrop course. Keeping your
heading bug set on the standard outbound heading
(the reciprocal of the inbound course), look at
the upper 90 segments of your HSI, if your
heading bug falls in the left 90 quadrant (for
left-hand patterns) or in the right 90 quadrant
(for right-hand patterns), you are conveniently
aligned. Now that youve determined that you are
conveniently aligned and are going to teardrop,
reposition your heading bug for the selected
teardrop course and turn to it (use course
guidance, if available) when crossing the fix.
LT
RT
Conveniently aligned for Right-hand holding
pattern
Conveniently aligned for Left-hand holding pattern
Keep in mind that the 45 teardrop displacement
doesnt always apply. Holding entries to
procedure turns are limited to offsets up to 30,
while ICAO holding dictates a fixed 30 teardrop
offset. In these cases, simply find your desired
teardrop course and see if your present heading
is within 45 (or whatever you use to determine
conveniently aligned) of it.