Definition
A charted holding pattern published on an instrument approach in place of a procedure turn, used to align the aircraft with the final approach course and allow descent to the procedure turn altitude. The holding pattern is flown using standard holding entry procedures, and the pilot remains in the hold until established inbound on the depicted course, at which point the approach is continued. Unless otherwise specified, only one circuit of the hold is required when course reversal is needed.
Plain English
It is a holding pattern shown on an approach chart that takes the place of a normal procedure turn. You use it to turn around and line up with the approach course, then continue the approach inbound.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts, including RNAV approaches with a Terminal Arrival Area, where the chart shows a holding pattern at an initial or intermediate fix.
Derivation
"In lieu of" comes from French and means "in place of." So the phrase literally means "a hold used in place of a procedure turn" — the chart designer chose a holding pattern to accomplish the same job a procedure turn would normally do.
Why Pilots Care
Satisfies the course-reversal requirement while often being more efficient and compatible with the arrival routing or ATC instructions.
Analogy
It is like using a marked loop in the road instead of making a separate U-turn: the loop is the approved way to turn around and line up.
Grounding Statement
If you arrive at the fix from a direction that does not line you up for the approach, the hold in lieu of a procedure turn gives you the charted path to turn around safely.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “hold” always means waiting in circles for a delay. Here, the holding pattern is mainly being used as the published turn-around path for the approach.
Example Sentence 1
The approach chart showed a hold in lieu of a procedure turn at the initial approach fix, so we flew one circuit and continued inbound on the final approach course.
Example Sentence 2
Cleared for the approach with a hold in lieu of a procedure turn, the aircraft remained in the racetrack pattern until established inbound.