Hi found this very interesting thread on another site. It deals with the ability to fly holding patterns while under ATC control on an IFR flight plan...rather than being forced to merely fly vectors to final.I, for one, didn't know this was possible without add-on software. Given the responses to the thread, a lot of others aren't aware either so I have pasted the thread here.___________________________________________________________________As stated earlier you must have knowledge of "how to" decline the default vectors to final that ATC issues and then request a Transistion Approach. All Approaches (not missed approach) that have a Holding Pattern are in this area of the FS9 database.Reggie Fields has on several occasions explained how important it is to always decline the novice vectors to final and how ATC gives priority to your user plane in respect to all the AI traffic that is flying around you.Now to the Tutorial which is written by MSNNavigate to your FS9 or FS2004 folder (whatever you named it)Go To the FSweb folderGo To the LearningCenter folderGo To the Navigation folder and open the document titled UsingtheGPS.htm If you send this document to the printer have plenty of paper (many pictures of the GPS).Go about 3 quarters of the way down until you get to the area heading that saysApproaches with HoldsIf an approach begins with a holding pattern etc. etc. A Transistion Approach is an extension in real world from the STAR arrival to the runways IAF. Because the STAR arrivals can start 350 NM away from an airport FS9 uses the Transistion phase because that is within the bounds of the visual AI/User Zone of the arrival airport.When the ATC Approach Controller confirms your request for a Transistion Approach he/she will vector you for the Transistion but not intervene with additional instructions because they expect you to be flying the approach chart that is in front of you. FS9 ATC will however monitor your progress though the Transistion and tell you to contact Tower at the appropriate point along with pointing out additional traffic that could be a conflict (even while you are in Hold).It is your option to use the Approach Holding Pattern if needed to delay you progress to the IAF of the active runway or Hold at least once or more times before completing the Transistion to final. Choose a relatively simple Transistion Approach with a holding pattern such as the GPS or RNAV rwy13 at KJAX. Ask for the OSBAJ Transistion from the ATC controller if you are coming from the North such as Savanna or Atlanta.NO GPS receiver is mandatory to fly these type holding pattern approaches in FS9. The GPS receiver is a handholding device with selectable options on how much do you want it to do. Request the Transistion and use the proper approach chart orOpen the GPS receiver and watch your progress or"Select" and "Activate" the Transistion using the GPS receiver then couple the GPS panel toggle switch to the NAV portion of the autopilot and let the plane fly itself to the threshold of the runway including one complete circuit in the approach holding pattern.Again all under the watchful eye of the default ATC system.Once you master a simple Transistion with an Approach holding pattern move on to more complex approaches found thoughout the FS9 default database.We are talking about Transistion Approach Holding Patterns that are coded into FS9's database that are required for the Transistion to IAF for Final. These have nothing to do with weather or Traffic delays (see below) that can have holding patterns 100 miles from the airport.Our Visual Airport Zone in FS9 is only 108NM in radius from the airport reference point found in the APnnnnnnn.bgl. You do not need a GPS to fly any type Transistion Approach with or without a holding pattern. Transistion Approaches are selected through the ATC popup window.If you do not use Approach Charts for the Transistion that ATC cleared you to but elect to use the GPS receiver (for graphical visuals) then you have different options to help you hand fly the plane.ATC will not tell you when to exit the holding pattern. Holding patterns are used for many different reason and I think what everyone really expects is for ATC to instruct a hold due to weather or AI Traffic delay into an airport. FS9 does not do that purposely but the user pilot can execute it without penalty from ATC.The holding patterns in the database are Transistion Approach Holding Patterns. "LOAD" and "ACTIVATE" the Transistion Approach with the use of the GPS then couple the GPS to the autopilot. This will hand fly the plane for you so a learning curve can be established (your responsible for altitude settings).By default the GPS receiver will only make one circuit in the hold and exit to continue the approach. On the face of the GPS receiver is a OBS button. If you push the OBS button while in the holding Pattern a yellow display will now say SUSP. This means to suspend the approach and stay in the holding pattern for as many times you want. ATC will monitor your hold based on the last Approach freq. and not the Tower Freq. When you are ready to continue the approach push the OBS again and the plane will exit the hold at the proper time and continue the approach. You can stay in the hold as long as you want and exit the hold when you want. ATC will monitor only and not make instructions.Examples of advantages to a hold that you control under the watchful eye of ATC in FS9. Using the Approach Hold to ready the plane for a low visibilty landing, configure the plane for the 30 degree offset to final, reading charts, setting freq., mentally preparing for the published missed approach procedures, setting up 3rd party complex GPS/FMC type receivers, monitoring additional AI Traffic supplied by 3rd party panel designers so you can slot yourself for final without conflicts, etc. Another example is for high performance clean Jets. Center instructs a descent to 13,000 ft prior to handing you off to the Approach Controller. You want to keep your speed up though the descent but find that speed and descent rate is going to get you in trouble with Approach or you are going to get outside the slot you are trying to configure the plane for.Request the Transistion the instant Center hands you off to Approach. Approach ATC will clear you by way of vectors to the Transistion Approach entry point regardless of speed and altitude. You can now use the vectors to the Transistion entry point to slow the aircraft at a high altitude. Enter the holding pattern at the standard rate speed 220KIAS and start the descent so you stay below 250KIAS. Use as many circuits as needed to descend to the altitude the Approach Controller instructed to execute the Transistion. If you do execute a missed approach always request the Published when contacting departure. If there is also a Missed Approach holding pattern in the database then ATC will instruct you to climb to the proper altitude and hold as per the charts when FS9 was released. If you are not sure how to get there use the GPS coupled to the autopilot and it will hand fly you there.Once in the missed approach holding pattern the autopilot will keep you there until you tell ATC you are ready to execute another approach. ATC will also monitor your position while holding and call out conflicts if needed.

This is really interesting- so it sounds like one could fly a Procedure Turn (if one is authorized for the approach)- in fact that may be what the article is referring to, although a PT is somewhat different to a "hold" (unless a hold in lieu of a PT).I must try this at home. Thanks for the heads-up.Bruce.

Yep Bruce, it's more about procedural turns, and 'short' procedural 'holds'.I have been doing it for a while, and actually prefer it.Typically I will select an approach I want (desire) via the GPS enroute or even prior to take-off, select the RWY (typically ILS selection), then the fix point of entry as given by the options in the GPS. Sometimes it is a procedural turn/teardrop/'short circular hold' via VOR/ADF/FIX etc. depending on the actual choices and GPS data base.Now...there are times when asked initially to vector to an approach by ATC, I immediately go to my alternative choices offered at the ATC window, and the procedure I have loaded in my GPS is not availiable, or even non-existant. If the choice is different I may go back and load the 'ATC window offered approach' instead. I then ask for that approach from ATC and typically am given permission to fly directly to *that* approach 'fix'....then I simply go to the GPS and *activate* the approach which takes you directly to that procedure 'point'. If there are no preocdures availiable via the ATC window, I will then simply 'forget it' and vector per ATC. That does happen sometimes.The FS GPS will actually fly you all through the approach pattern, but there will come to that point of ILS intercept when you have to select APP at the autopilot and switch off the GPS...at least I do. Be carefull to select APP via the autopilot early enough, or you may miss the GS lock if availiable.The neat thing about this also is that if a missed approach is necessary, ATC will vector you back to the begining approach 'fix', and all you have to do is follow the 'missed' pattern, reset altitude, then go back and re-activate the approach via the GPS and you be flown back 'to the begining' of the pattern via the GPS.Hope that helps and makes sense...

Thanks for the follow-up and info. Yes, it makes sense :). Thanks again, Bruce.