DC9-30 crew was issued confusing holding instructions in ZAU class a.

Attributes
ACN	530405
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fwa.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 22000
Environment
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16500 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	530405
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were 10 DME nnw of fwa VOR on a 240 degree heading. We were issued holding on the fwa 039 degree radial, left turn, 15 DME legs. We could not enter holding on this heading. I asked if we were cleared direct fwa. The controller said that we were already in the hold. This is where the confusion started. We were 10 mi north of the holding pattern, I figured he wanted us to continue our heading (since he said we were already in the hold) for 15 mi then turn left to fwa. This put us 15 mi on the non holding side. If the controller cleared us direct fwa or issued a left turn to 039 degrees for the hold, there would have been no confusion, as you can see, we were not in the hold as the controller said. This clearance was issued immediately with no time to prepare for the hold.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 CREW WAS ISSUED CONFUSING HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS IN ZAU CLASS A.

Narrative: WE WERE 10 DME NNW OF FWA VOR ON A 240 DEG HDG. WE WERE ISSUED HOLDING ON THE FWA 039 DEG RADIAL, L TURN, 15 DME LEGS. WE COULD NOT ENTER HOLDING ON THIS HEADING. I ASKED IF WE WERE CLRED DIRECT FWA. THE CTLR SAID THAT WE WERE ALREADY IN THE HOLD. THIS IS WHERE THE CONFUSION STARTED. WE WERE 10 MI N OF THE HOLDING PATTERN, I FIGURED HE WANTED US TO CONTINUE OUR HEADING (SINCE HE SAID WE WERE ALREADY IN THE HOLD) FOR 15 MI THEN TURN L TO FWA. THIS PUT US 15 MI ON THE NON HOLDING SIDE. IF THE CTLR CLRED US DIRECT FWA OR ISSUED A L TURN TO 039 DEGS FOR THE HOLD, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO CONFUSION, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE NOT IN THE HOLD AS THE CTLR SAID. THIS CLRNC WAS ISSUED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE HOLD.

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.