I have noticed over the years that many pilots assume that the controller is
watching their data block like a hawk, ready to pick up any error,
diversion, or navigational situation. Tain't so. Once the controller has
transmitted the holding instructions and you have acknowledged them, he or
she assumes that you are going to carry them out and switches to watching
other traffic. Speak up.

Bob Gardner

"Dennis Johnson" wrote in message
. ..
With help from the people on this newsgroup, I'm happy to announce that I
passed my IPC!

One thing that came up on my flight was that I didn't announce that I was
entering holding and my altitude.

The 2006 AIM 5-3-3 a. 1. (f) requires reporting to ATC, whether in radar
contact or not, "The time and altitude...upon reaching a holding fix..."

However, the FAA's "Instrument Flying Handbook" FAA-H-8083-15, dated 2001,
says on page10-8 that a report entering holding is not required if in
radar contact.

Obviously, they contradict each other. I told the instructor pilot that I
had chosen to go with the "Instrument Flying Handbook" version and not
make a report to ATC because it seemed to me that if I was in radar
contact, the controller would see it happening.

So, what do you think? Which FAA book is wrong? Why does the controller
need reminding that I'm entering holding when I'm in radar contact?

Thanks,
Dennis