Holding pattern in an approach
 

Hello ,
Hope everyone is doing great .
I am in my instrument rating and today i was confused by a simple question and i please need some help .
If we have a holding pattern over the IAF on the approach plate and prior reaching that IAF the ATC clears me for approach , should i do the holding , or for instance do the teardrop entry go inbound then exit the hold and if i am direct not to join the hold at all ?

Thanks

If coming from the Direct entry sector then just fly the approach, if coming from Parallel/Teardrop entry sector then execute the entry to position yourself for the outbound track to start the procedure.

Whether or not you need to enter the hold is based on three things:

1. What ATC have cleared you for
2. Your heading when arriving at the beacon
3. Your altitude when arriving at the beacon

In your example, ATC have cleared you for the approach, so your only considerations are heading and altitude.

As you say, there is nothing stopping you heading straight out on the approach if you're heading in the appropriate direction... AND you're at a sensible altitude.

For instance, on that approach plate you only have 5 miles to the commencement of the turn. So, if for whatever reason, you arrive overhead at 10K... enter the hold and do a lap or 2 while letting down to a more sensible altitude before commencing the approach (after advising ATC ;) )

Appreciate the help guys , i now have a better idea of doing approaches with holdings in them . Have a great day everyone

This is a point that confuses many people, me included ! But - the points 1-3 above are right. It is in general only common senseif you think about what is to be achieved, you need to be over the beacon at 4000ft, and in a position where you are established for the next segment. On US charts some of the ambiguity is removed by showing the feeder routes to the IAF and these are marked noPT if you don't need to do a procedure turn or (more usually) a hold in lieu of a procedure turn. If the feeder route doesnt say noPT, you are required to use teh published course reversal/hold to get alighned for teh next segment. Also, sometimes pilots surprise ATC by taking up the hold ( or not) so its always good to state what you intend doing if there is any question about what you think you are cleared to do.

Hold entries are another source of confusion, but nobody cares what you do as long as you stay in the protected airspace of the hold. If it isn't a direct entry, some pilots will always position to fly a teardrop or a parallel entry for course reversal.