Wondering about the definition of holding pattern? Keep reading to learn the meaning of holding pattern, see some examples, and get a better understanding of this travel glossary term!
What is a Holding Pattern?
In aviation parlance, a holding pattern, sometimes called “flying a hold,” is a maneuver which air traffic control may request of an incoming flight to delay its landing while keeping the aircraft in nearby airspace.
More on Holding Patterns
When a landing slot is not yet available, due to congestion, ground stop, or other incident, flying a holding pattern is requested from the control tower, which is essentially like a car circling the parking lot until a space becomes available.
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