Definition
A charted holding pattern flown in place of a procedure turn to accomplish course reversal on an instrument approach. The aircraft enters the depicted holding pattern at the specified fix, flies one circuit using published inbound course, leg length, and turn direction, and rolls out established on the final approach course. It is mandatory when charted and must be flown unless the controller explicitly clears the aircraft 'straight-in' or radar vectors to final.
Plain English
Instead of doing a standard procedure turn to reverse direction onto the final approach course, the chart shows a small racetrack-shaped holding pattern. You fly one lap of that pattern, which lines you up correctly with the runway approach path.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts where the course reversal is drawn as a holding pattern near the approach path.
Derivation
In lieu of' is a French-derived legal phrase meaning 'in place of.' The name simply tells you what the pattern is doing — it stands in place of a procedure turn, performing the same job of reversing course onto final.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a protected, charted method to reverse course and manage altitude while remaining within the approach's protected airspace.
Grounding Statement
Picture approaching a fix from the wrong direction, flying one racetrack-shaped loop, and coming out lined up with the approach path.
Intuition Check
Do not read “hold” here as simply waiting in place. A hold-in-lieu-of procedure turn is a published turn-around maneuver shaped like a holding pattern.
Example Sentence 1
Because we were arriving from the north, we flew the hold-in-lieu-of procedure turn at JOLLY to reverse course onto the final approach.
Example Sentence 2
Because the approach plate showed a hold-in-lieu-of procedure turn, the aircraft reversed direction while remaining within protected airspace.