GNS 480 Holds

One nice feature of the GNS 480 is the ability to create a hold at any waypoint.  Once you select the waypoint from the flight plan or the data base you have the ability to select the inbound course, right or left turns, time or distance for the inbound leg and miles or time for the values.

As seen in the picture above I created a flight plan for Ocean City (KOXB) to Wilmington Delaware (KILG)with ENO VOR as a waypoint. On this simulated flight I set up a hold at ENO, pictured below.

A holding clearance issued by ATC will include at least the following items:

• a clearance to the holding fix
• the direction to hold from the holding fix
• a specified radial, course, or inbound track
• if DME is used, the DME distances at which the fix end and outbound end turns are to be commenced (hold between [number of miles] and [number of miles]). If the outbound DME is not specified by ATC, pilots are expected adhere to the standard holding pattern timing procedures
• the altitude to be maintained
• the time to expect further clearance or an approach clearance or the time to leave the fix in the event of a communications failure

Let's role play a bit. ATC clears us as follows. 

N453TC you are cleared direct Smyrna (ENO) VOR, hold east on the 090° radial, expect further clearance at 0930Z.

This tells us what we need to set up and fly the hold. The unspoken info is, since no distance or time was given, is to fly one minute legs and a standard right hand pattern. Remember, standard hold patterns (right) are the opposite of the standard landing patterns (left). 

In order to be inbound on the 090° radial I set up on a 270°, I left the default right turns and one minute inbound selections.

In the above picture you can see the racetrack hold displayed on the GPS at the ENO VOR.

Above you can see the hold listed on the flight plan page. Once everything is entered you must select the EXEC button on the bottom to execute the modified plan. I continued to fly the flight plan and after one loop in the hold, and approaching ENO, I clicked on the SUSP button to resume the original flight plan.

I must say it was pretty easy, we'll see how it goes in flight, eventually under the hood. I have been previously spoiled by the FlightStream 210 and 'sending' every change to the 430/530 with a touch of a button. At least there is an autopilot to help when it gets busy or in IFR conditions.