How long are legs in holding?

How long are legs in holding?

• A. 1 NM
• B. 2 NM
• C. 0.5 NM
• D. 5 NM

Answer: (A)

In a standard holding pattern, the straight segments between turns are called legs, and their length is defined by time rather than a fixed distance. Each leg is flown for one minute, using a standard rate turn to reverse direction. At typical holding speeds (around 100 knots), one minute of flying time corresponds to about 1 nautical mile of distance, so the leg length is effectively 1 NM. The key idea is that the leg length is one minute of flight, which for standard speeds translates to roughly 1 NM per leg.

In a standard holding pattern, the straight segments between turns are called legs, and their length is defined by time rather than a fixed distance. Each leg is flown for one minute, using a standard rate turn to reverse direction. At typical holding speeds (around 100 knots), one minute of flying time corresponds to about 1 nautical mile of distance, so the leg length is effectively 1 NM. The key idea is that the leg length is one minute of flight, which for standard speeds translates to roughly 1 NM per leg.