In a holding pattern, how does the protected airspace area change as altitude and speed increase?

In a holding pattern, how does the protected airspace area change as altitude and speed increase?

• A. Increases in size
• B. Decreases in size
• C. Remains the same
• D. Becomes unprotected

Answer: (A)

In a holding pattern, the space that must be kept free around the aircraft is sized to let you turn safely and stay on the protected path. The key point is that the turn radius grows with speed. For a standard-rate turn, the radius is roughly proportional to true airspeed, since the aircraft needs more lateral space to complete the same number of degrees per second as you go faster. So when speed increases, the area you sweep out during the turns becomes larger, and the protected airspace expands accordingly. Altitude comes into play because, for the same indicated speed, true airspeed tends to be higher at higher altitudes. That also leads to a larger turn radius, further increasing the protected area. So, as altitude and speed increase, the protected airspace around the holding pattern increases in size.

In a holding pattern, the space that must be kept free around the aircraft is sized to let you turn safely and stay on the protected path. The key point is that the turn radius grows with speed. For a standard-rate turn, the radius is roughly proportional to true airspeed, since the aircraft needs more lateral space to complete the same number of degrees per second as you go faster. So when speed increases, the area you sweep out during the turns becomes larger, and the protected airspace expands accordingly.

Altitude comes into play because, for the same indicated speed, true airspeed tends to be higher at higher altitudes. That also leads to a larger turn radius, further increasing the protected area.

So, as altitude and speed increase, the protected airspace around the holding pattern increases in size.