I was attempting a missed approach today in 737NG at KATL on ILS 8L. Once I got to minimums, I hit TOGA and the plane pitched upward and engines roared back to life. After cleaning up with gear and flaps being retracted, I noticed the plane did not take me to the holding pattern-TROYS. I had the A/P on as well as I was in VNAV and LNAV. I then attempted to DIRECT TROYS and although I was able to enter it, the FMC was confused and I just kept heading straight. This is not the first time this happened to me trying this. It also happened when I was training on Metzinger's training manual when landing in Orlando. Is this an active option? If so, does anyone have any suggestions what I might be doing wrong here?ThanksJames

I was attempting a missed approach today in 737NG at KATL on ILS 8L. Once I got to minimums, I hit TOGA and the plane pitched upward and engines roared back to life. After cleaning up with gear and flaps being retracted, I noticed the plane did not take me to the holding pattern-TROYS. I had the A/P on as well as I was in VNAV and LNAV. I then attempted to DIRECT TROYS and although I was able to enter it, the FMC was confused and I just kept heading straight. This is not the first time this happened to me trying this. It also happened when I was training on Metzinger's training manual when landing in Orlando. Is this an active option? If so, does anyone have any suggestions what I might be doing wrong here?ThanksJames

My experience with the PMDG-737 and holding patterns is that anything other than a direct entry to the hold only produces the aircraft start to make strange and never ending left and right turns as if it was trying to enter the circuit without being able to "catch" the racetrack.

My experience with the PMDG-737 and holding patterns is that anything other than a direct entry to the hold only produces the aircraft start to make strange and never ending left and right turns as if it was trying to enter the circuit without being able to "catch" the racetrack.

That's exactly what it seemed to do. I went back and tried again and the second time I was able to get the plane to the holding fix. I hit LNAV along with level change. I stayed in the hold until exiting. I need to run the pattern a few more times to make sure that it is a reliable maneuver and I did something right or if I just got lucky. Thanks for the reply. James