Definition
A charted holding pattern used in place of a procedure turn on an instrument approach to allow the aircraft to lose altitude, reverse course, and become established inbound on the final approach course. It is flown like a standard holding pattern but serves the course-reversal function of a procedure turn, and is mandatory when depicted unless the aircraft is cleared straight-in, is being radar vectored to final, or is conducting a timed approach.
Plain English
A holding pattern shown on an approach chart that the pilot flies instead of doing the usual back-and-forth procedure turn. It gives the aircraft room to slow down, descend, and turn around so it can roll out lined up with the final approach course.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts, usually near an initial approach fix where the procedure needs a course reversal before continuing inbound.
Derivation
The phrase 'in lieu of' is from the French 'lieu' meaning 'place,' so 'hold-in-lieu-of procedure turn' literally means 'a hold used in the place of a procedure turn.' Knowing this makes the function obvious: it replaces the procedure turn while doing the same job.
Why Pilots Care
It gives a safe, standardized way to lose altitude and align with the approach course when a procedure turn is not authorized or not shown on the chart.
Grounding Statement
Picture arriving at the approach from the wrong direction: the HILPT gives you a published racetrack path to turn around and come back lined up correctly.
Intuition Check
Do not read HILPT as just a place to wait. In this context, the holding pattern is part of the approach path and is used instead of a procedure turn.
Example Sentence 1
Because they were arriving from the north and not on a straight-in course, the crew flew one turn in the HILPT to lose altitude and get established inbound.
Example Sentence 2
Instead of a procedure turn the chart showed a HILPT at the fix.