Rainboe,
The only reason I am striving for accuracy is because I have seen so many people fail the NDB section of the IR. I believe the reason for this is that most students fly the hold and approach based on forecasts from the Met Office, and that when the forecasts aren't accurate enough, the students don't recognise this and cock things up. Students may have been fortunate/unfortunate enough to have gone through their training with forecasted winds being very close to actual, which would lull them into over-relying on these forecasts. An actual wind considerably different from the forecast wind on IR day causes these students to fail this section. I want to make sure that enroute to the hold I am in a position to look at my instruments and calculate the wind direction and strength, to compare it against my planned wind on the ground and, if different, to get some calculations done rapidly. I am entirely in agreement with you on keeping it simple, but I don't think I am overly complicating it. I guess the only way of assessing the wind is to pull out the CRP-5 or electronic equivalent, so I'll have to investigate whether this is allowed.
DFC,
So for calculating the hold wind at 3500', are you saying that veering the spotwind from ATC by 30 degrees and doubling the strength would give an accurate enough wind?
misd-agin,
Your input is only useful if you know what the wind strength and direction is...... and that is exactly what this thread is about.
Thanks to all for your opinion!