In a published hold, which of the following describes inbound and outbound wind corrections and the wind correction angle (WCA) formula?

In a published hold, which of the following describes inbound and outbound wind corrections and the wind correction angle (WCA) formula?

• A. Inbound 1x wind correction on the inbound; Outbound 3x wind correction; WCA = difference in wind direction × wind speed / TAS
• B. Inbound 2x wind correction on the inbound; Outbound 2x wind correction; WCA = TAS / wind speed
• C. Inbound 1x wind correction on the inbound; Outbound 2x wind correction; WCA = wind speed × TAS / difference
• D. Inbound 0x wind correction on the inbound; Outbound 3x wind correction; WCA = sum of wind components

Answer: (A)

Wind drift correction in a published hold is about turning your heading enough to counteract the wind so you stay on the desired track during both inbound and outbound legs. The wind correction angle is the amount you nose into the wind to keep your ground track aligned with the leg you’re flying. In this context, the WCA is related to the crosswind component: the greater the wind’s angle relative to the leg and the stronger the wind, the larger the heading adjustment needed to counter drift. The formula shown expresses that relationship as WCA approximately equals the difference in wind direction (the angle between the wind and your leg) times the wind speed, divided by true airspeed. That gives an angle value in degrees that you apply as a heading correction. In a published hold, the inbound leg typically uses a 1x wind correction on the inbound, while the outbound leg uses a larger correction (here shown as 3x) to counter the wind’s effect on the outbound track as you move away from the fix and re-intercept the inbound course. The other options don’t fit because they either propose incorrect multipliers for inbound/outbound corrections or provide an incorrect form for the WCA (for example, formulas that yield a non-angle or ignore the wind’s angular relationship to the leg).

Wind drift correction in a published hold is about turning your heading enough to counteract the wind so you stay on the desired track during both inbound and outbound legs. The wind correction angle is the amount you nose into the wind to keep your ground track aligned with the leg you’re flying. In this context, the WCA is related to the crosswind component: the greater the wind’s angle relative to the leg and the stronger the wind, the larger the heading adjustment needed to counter drift.

The formula shown expresses that relationship as WCA approximately equals the difference in wind direction (the angle between the wind and your leg) times the wind speed, divided by true airspeed. That gives an angle value in degrees that you apply as a heading correction. In a published hold, the inbound leg typically uses a 1x wind correction on the inbound, while the outbound leg uses a larger correction (here shown as 3x) to counter the wind’s effect on the outbound track as you move away from the fix and re-intercept the inbound course.

The other options don’t fit because they either propose incorrect multipliers for inbound/outbound corrections or provide an incorrect form for the WCA (for example, formulas that yield a non-angle or ignore the wind’s angular relationship to the leg).