Narrative:

On one of those 'clear and a million' nights while descending into philadelphia, PA, we were given holding instructions at miroy intersection. After completing 2 turns or so we were then cleared directly to har VOR. At har VOR we once again received holding instructions. We completed a couple of turns and were then cleared directly to lrp VOR. It sounded like we would now be able to proceed without further delay to our destination, philadelphia. However, as we got closer to bunts intersection we once again (3RD time) were given holding instructions. Our efc looked like we would have to hold for 30-40 mins, however the controller said it would not really be that long. Fuel was now my major concern -- abe was our alternate and was very close, however I did not want to let ourselves get in a jam. The first officer entered the holding pattern at bunts, at which time I told the controller we were entering the holding. Then I let myself become absorbed in fuel calculations. Perhaps 1 1/2 mins later I got 'back in the loop' and realized the first officer had not made the turn back toward the holding fix. I stated this to the first officer, who immediately made the left turn back towards bunts. Approximately 1/2 way through the turn the controller said he showed us exiting the holding airspace. The problems: someone has to fly the airplane. I allowed myself to become distracted by the potential fuel situation -- the first officer was on his own.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG FLIES PAST THE 10 MI LEG PORTION OF A HOLDING PATTERN WHILE THE PIC, PNF, IS CALCULATING FUEL REMAINING REQUIRED FOR ANY PROPOSED ALTERNATE OP.

Narrative: ON ONE OF THOSE 'CLR AND A MILLION' NIGHTS WHILE DSNDING INTO PHILADELPHIA, PA, WE WERE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AT MIROY INTXN. AFTER COMPLETING 2 TURNS OR SO WE WERE THEN CLRED DIRECTLY TO HAR VOR. AT HAR VOR WE ONCE AGAIN RECEIVED HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS. WE COMPLETED A COUPLE OF TURNS AND WERE THEN CLRED DIRECTLY TO LRP VOR. IT SOUNDED LIKE WE WOULD NOW BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO OUR DEST, PHILADELPHIA. HOWEVER, AS WE GOT CLOSER TO BUNTS INTXN WE ONCE AGAIN (3RD TIME) WERE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS. OUR EFC LOOKED LIKE WE WOULD HAVE TO HOLD FOR 30-40 MINS, HOWEVER THE CTLR SAID IT WOULD NOT REALLY BE THAT LONG. FUEL WAS NOW MY MAJOR CONCERN -- ABE WAS OUR ALTERNATE AND WAS VERY CLOSE, HOWEVER I DID NOT WANT TO LET OURSELVES GET IN A JAM. THE FO ENTERED THE HOLDING PATTERN AT BUNTS, AT WHICH TIME I TOLD THE CTLR WE WERE ENTERING THE HOLDING. THEN I LET MYSELF BECOME ABSORBED IN FUEL CALCULATIONS. PERHAPS 1 1/2 MINS LATER I GOT 'BACK IN THE LOOP' AND REALIZED THE FO HAD NOT MADE THE TURN BACK TOWARD THE HOLDING FIX. I STATED THIS TO THE FO, WHO IMMEDIATELY MADE THE L TURN BACK TOWARDS BUNTS. APPROX 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE TURN THE CTLR SAID HE SHOWED US EXITING THE HOLDING AIRSPACE. THE PROBS: SOMEONE HAS TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BECOME DISTRACTED BY THE POTENTIAL FUEL SIT -- THE FO WAS ON HIS OWN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.