A320 flight crew is directed to hold at FL360. Due to aircraft performance limits; holding pattern i...

Attributes
ACN	691651
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	691651
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We were issued holding over fak VOR on the 038 degree inbound; 10 mi legs. Due to our altitude of above FL300; the A320 will only use about 10 degrees bank in the turn above this altitude. We were holding at FL360. The only way to override this is to disconnect the autoplt and hand fly which is not in the SOP's for our company. The winds were 295 degrees at 150 KTS; so the FMS computed a wide holding pattern to compensate for the high GS and low bank. Hold approximately 25 mi wide. ATC queried us about our position and when we replied about the winds being 295 degrees; 150 KTS; we were given vectors. The only way this can be prevented in the future; I think; is either by holding at altitudes below FL300 in the A320; or changing the SOP's at XXX to address this type of problem with holding at high altitudes in extreme xwinds; or by teaching ATC personnel that this type of aircraft will fly a wide pattern to compensate for the high ground speed on the downward leg; we were holding at mach .74 or approximately 220 KIAS. But had a ground speed of 370 KTS on the turn to inbound leg.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW IS DIRECTED TO HOLD AT FL360. DUE TO ACFT PERFORMANCE LIMITS; HOLDING PATTERN IS WIDE AND LONG. ATC QUERIES FLT CREW REGARDING PATTERN.

Narrative: WE WERE ISSUED HOLDING OVER FAK VOR ON THE 038 DEG INBOUND; 10 MI LEGS. DUE TO OUR ALT OF ABOVE FL300; THE A320 WILL ONLY USE ABOUT 10 DEGS BANK IN THE TURN ABOVE THIS ALT. WE WERE HOLDING AT FL360. THE ONLY WAY TO OVERRIDE THIS IS TO DISCONNECT THE AUTOPLT AND HAND FLY WHICH IS NOT IN THE SOP'S FOR OUR COMPANY. THE WINDS WERE 295 DEGS AT 150 KTS; SO THE FMS COMPUTED A WIDE HOLDING PATTERN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HIGH GS AND LOW BANK. HOLD APPROX 25 MI WIDE. ATC QUERIED US ABOUT OUR POS AND WHEN WE REPLIED ABOUT THE WINDS BEING 295 DEGS; 150 KTS; WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS. THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE; I THINK; IS EITHER BY HOLDING AT ALTS BELOW FL300 IN THE A320; OR CHANGING THE SOP'S AT XXX TO ADDRESS THIS TYPE OF PROB WITH HOLDING AT HIGH ALTS IN EXTREME XWINDS; OR BY TEACHING ATC PERSONNEL THAT THIS TYPE OF ACFT WILL FLY A WIDE PATTERN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HIGH GND SPD ON THE DOWNWARD LEG; WE WERE HOLDING AT MACH .74 OR APPROX 220 KIAS. BUT HAD A GND SPD OF 370 KTS ON THE TURN TO INBOUND LEG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

A320 flight crew is directed to hold at FL360. Due to aircraft performance limits; holding pattern is wide and long. ATC queries flight crew regarding pattern.