Aviation Mobile Apps has updated its Holding Pattern Computer with a patent-pending analytic solution that enables pilots to roll out precisely onto the inbound leg and fly it for exactly the prescribed time or distance, regardless of wind direction and speed, according to company officials.
While other holding pattern apps and devices simply suggest an appropriate entry procedure — direct, parallel or teardrop — Holding Pattern Computer provides turn-by-turn directions, including how long to fly a heading before initiating a turn, company officials noted.
Holding Pattern Computer uses a patent-pending analytic solution developed by aerospace industry veteran and FAA Safety Team Representative Les Glatt, PhD, ATP/CFI-AI, AGI/IGI.
“As a flight instructor for over 40 years, it became apparent that the FAA training guidelines of using a trial and error method for correcting the track of the aircraft for winds to meet a specified inbound time to the holding fix was only valid under a limited set of conditions,” he said. “The development of the exact analytic solution of the ‘Generalized Holding Pattern Problem’ not only allows the pilot to nail the holding pattern on the first circuit, but it also explained why the FAA method fails as the wind speed increased. The results of this analysis can have a major impact on how we train IFR pilots on flying holding patterns in the future.”
Holding Pattern Computer automatically calculates ground track, wind correction angle, headings, and required timings, given the assigned fix, true airspeed, and virtually any wind direction and velocity up to 99.99% of TAS, he explained.
Additionally, since outbound time is measured from the point the aircraft turns to the outbound heading, it is no longer necessary to locate the abeam point, significantly reducing pilot workload, he noted.
“The app is ideal for less seasoned pilots and those training for their instrument rating who need to quickly calculate wind correction angles, course, headings, and required timings,” company officials said in a prepared release. “Holding Pattern Computer’s detailed calculations also provide a great cross-check for more experienced Pilots who attempt to perform these calculations mentally.”
The App price was reduced to $11.99 for the holidays. Enjoy!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/holding-pattern-computer/id1093542620?mt=8
The last 60 years of training instrument pilots in the art of flying the holding pattern in the presence of a wind has been filled with myths and misconceptions. In the latest AIM, the FAA has recommended Pilots to fly the holding pattern at a speed no less than 90KIAS in order to reduce the effect of the wind drift. In the seminal paper “A Treatise on the Holding Pattern: Expelling the Myths and Misconceptions of Timing and Wind Correction”, the reader is now able to understand the actual complexity of flying the holding pattern when the wind-speed is greater than 10% of the TAS. The purchaser of the Computer is not paying $40 to nail the holding pattern on the first circuit but is able to learn how to avoid certain types of holding patterns that can exist which are extremely difficult to fly. Would you be willing to pay a Flight Instructor $40 to become more educated on how to fly the holding pattern, and at the same time, nail the holding pattern on the first circuit? Seems like a no-brainer.
Forty dollars for a one trick pony app? No way – that’s about 10x more expensive than it should be.
All for tools helping pilots to become more proficient. We just have to be able to accomplish the task, without totally relying on one resource.
Couldn’t find it on Android Play Store.
Looks like it’s only for Apple. And it’s a whopping $39.99.