If an aircraft is approaching a holding pattern with an inbound course of 270° and the entry heading is 020°, which entry procedure is appropriate?

In this scenario, the aircraft is approaching a holding pattern with an inbound course of 270°, which means the aircraft will be turning to fly inbound on this heading. The entry heading is 020°, which is a significant angle from the holding course.

When considering how to enter the holding pattern, pilots typically identify whether they will have a direct entry, a left entry, or an offset entry. For this case, the best approach is to perform an offset entry that allows the aircraft to smoothly transition into the holding pattern while effectively intercepting a track that leads to the holding pattern's inbound course.

By turning right to intercept an offset track of 060°, the aircraft creates an established and efficient path towards the holding pattern. The 060° track, once intercepted, will enable the aircraft to seamlessly continue to the holding pattern on the inbound heading of 270°, ensuring a proper and controlled entry.

This method minimizes the potential for overshoot and ensures that the aircraft is aligned correctly with the holding pattern, especially since the entry heading (020°) has a larger angle difference from the inbound course (270°). Offset entries are general practice in such settings, especially when the entry heading is significantly different from the inbound course, to ensure a smooth and