Narrative:

While en route from pbi to phl, we were given a hold at hopewell VOR, left turn on the 205 degree radial at FL290, and 10 mi legs. We asked for longer legs but our request was refused. During 2ND turn in pattern, controller asked us to tighten up the pattern as we were drifting into another holding pattern. We increased bank angle to try to stay inside the pattern limits. The problem is, that at higher altitudes and lower speeds, we are limited to a shallow bank angle. Add to this the fact that the VOR slant range at 10 mi and FL290 is only a few mi from the station, and we ended up in a constant bank, unable to set up any kind of reasonable holding pattern. Holding patterns at higher altitudes should have at least 20 NM legs, and large enough to take shallow bank angles into account.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HIGH ALT HOLDING BY ACR. ATC ADVISES THEM TO TIGHTEN UP PATTERN AS THEY WERE DRIFTING INTO ANOTHER HOLDING PATTERN.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM PBI TO PHL, WE WERE GIVEN A HOLD AT HOPEWELL VOR, LEFT TURN ON THE 205 DEG RADIAL AT FL290, AND 10 MI LEGS. WE ASKED FOR LONGER LEGS BUT OUR REQUEST WAS REFUSED. DURING 2ND TURN IN PATTERN, CTLR ASKED US TO TIGHTEN UP THE PATTERN AS WE WERE DRIFTING INTO ANOTHER HOLDING PATTERN. WE INCREASED BANK ANGLE TO TRY TO STAY INSIDE THE PATTERN LIMITS. THE PROBLEM IS, THAT AT HIGHER ALTS AND LOWER SPEEDS, WE ARE LIMITED TO A SHALLOW BANK ANGLE. ADD TO THIS THE FACT THAT THE VOR SLANT RANGE AT 10 MI AND FL290 IS ONLY A FEW MI FROM THE STATION, AND WE ENDED UP IN A CONSTANT BANK, UNABLE TO SET UP ANY KIND OF REASONABLE HOLDING PATTERN. HOLDING PATTERNS AT HIGHER ALTS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 20 NM LEGS, AND LARGE ENOUGH TO TAKE SHALLOW BANK ANGLES INTO ACCOUNT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.