Definition
Designated geographic locations, typically defined as floating waypoints on Area Navigation (RNAV) routes or procedures, where an aircraft is instructed to remain in a holding pattern until further clearance is issued by air traffic control.
Plain English
Specific spots in the sky where a pilot is told to fly in a racetrack-shaped pattern and wait until ATC clears them to continue.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument procedure charts, missed approach instructions, area navigation procedures, and air traffic control holding clearances.
Derivation
From 'hold' (to stay in place) and 'point' (a specific location). The term reflects the function: a fixed point at which the aircraft is held.
Why Pilots Care
Enables safe traffic sequencing and separation while an aircraft awaits an approach clearance.
Grounding Statement
A holding point is the spot in the sky that the waiting pattern is built around.
Intuition Check
Do not read holding points as any convenient places to pause. In this context, they are specific positions used to define where the aircraft must hold.
Example Sentence 1
ATC instructed the crew to proceed to the holding point and hold as published, expecting further clearance in fifteen minutes.
Example Sentence 2
The floating waypoint served as the holding point when the primary fix was unavailable.