Hold direct entry and speed in Skyhawk

I'll never forget getting dinged on my IFR checkride for not reducing
power in the hold. DE said it was to save gas and "very important". I
thought it was BS but agreed with him mightily. This was in a Skyhawk
similar plane (actually my Husky). But saving gas could be an issue as
you never really know how long you will be in the hold. I am reminded
of the ATC joke when informed that it cost $2000 to take the Boeing
around once in a hold an the ATC guy said "well, give me 6 grands
worth". ...

A hold can begin when you are told to "expect" a hold ahead.
Slow down, lean it out and be sure to tell ATC you are now
slower than your filed speed. By the time you get there,
there may not be a hold required.

But when you get into some airplanes there is a minimum
holding speed in icing conditions. So the speed should be
as slow as reasonable considering limitations, such as
autopilot limitations and fast enough to keep any ice on the
protected surfaces.



"Doug" wrote in message
ups.com...
| I'll never forget getting dinged on my IFR checkride for
not reducing
| power in the hold. DE said it was to save gas and "very
important". I
| thought it was BS but agreed with him mightily. This was
in a Skyhawk
| similar plane (actually my Husky). But saving gas could be
an issue as
| you never really know how long you will be in the hold. I
am reminded
| of the ATC joke when informed that it cost $2000 to take
the Boeing
| around once in a hold an the ATC guy said "well, give me 6
grands
| worth". ...
|