Definition
In a holding pattern, the timed leg flown away from the holding fix on a heading parallel to the inbound course. At or below 14,000 feet MSL, outbound timing is one minute; above 14,000 feet MSL, it is one and one-half minutes. Timing begins abeam the fix, or wings-level on the outbound heading if the abeam position cannot be determined.
Plain English
When you're flying a holding pattern, you fly one direction toward the fix and the opposite direction away from it. Outbound timing is how long you fly the away-from-the-fix leg before turning back. The standard is one minute lower down, and a minute and a half higher up.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument holding, especially when correcting for wind to make the inbound leg come out to the required time.
Derivation
"Outbound" simply means heading away from the reference point — in this case, the holding fix. Pairing it with "timing" tells the pilot what is being measured: the duration of that outbound leg.
Why Pilots Care
Proper outbound timing keeps the holding pattern predictable, maintains required separation from other traffic, and ensures compliance with published or ATC-assigned times.
Intuition Check
Do not assume outbound timing is always exactly one minute. In a hold, the outbound time is adjusted as needed so the inbound leg comes out correctly.
Example Sentence 1
After crossing the fix, the pilot started the outbound timing and began a standard rate turn to the outbound heading.
Example Sentence 2
Start the outbound timing the moment the aircraft passes abeam the fix on the outbound heading.