Narrative:

Instructed to hold. Holding instructions: 'hold west of cmk, 4000 ft, cmk 270 degree radial, 1.8 DME, 8 mi legs, proceed direct cmk.' I proceeded direct cmk (heading 090 degrees, essentially flying eastbound on 270 degree radial cmk). Puzzled over clearance, I queried controller. He replied 'I need to keep you a little west of cmk.' he then issued me a right 230 degree turn and asked me to tell him when I was established on the 270 degree radial outbound. Still confused, I executed turn, established on radial and informed ATC. I then flew out to 9.6 DME (1.8 + 8 mi leg) and turned right. Flew back to 1.8 DME. Turned right to intercept 270 degree radial outbound. ATC called and asked what I was doing. I replied orbiting as requested between 1.8 and 9.6. He said he meant 18! I then acknowledged 18 DME. Flew to DME 18 then continued to DME 26 (18 + 8) on the 270 degree radial. ATC again questioned me. I said I was proceeding as requested 18-26 mi DME (ie, 8 mi legs). He said no, he wanted me to hold between 10-18 DME. I then held between 10-18 DME. No further problem. The problem here is, I believe, incorrect ATC phrasing. The correct instructions would have been: 'hold east of the 18 DME fix on the cmk 270 degree radial 4000 ft, right turns, 8 mi legs.' the controller was extremely helpful and considerate and we worked together to put the aircraft where he wanted it. But perhaps their helpfulness (ie, giving me the intercepting turn) was part of the problem. I rarely hold at nonpublished intxns and I'll bet he rarely issues such holds.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28-236 PLT IS CONFUSED BY THE N90 APCH CTLR'S PHRASEOLOGY IN ENTERING THE HOLDING PATTERN W OF CMK, NY.

Narrative: INSTRUCTED TO HOLD. HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS: 'HOLD W OF CMK, 4000 FT, CMK 270 DEG RADIAL, 1.8 DME, 8 MI LEGS, PROCEED DIRECT CMK.' I PROCEEDED DIRECT CMK (HDG 090 DEGS, ESSENTIALLY FLYING EBOUND ON 270 DEG RADIAL CMK). PUZZLED OVER CLRNC, I QUERIED CTLR. HE REPLIED 'I NEED TO KEEP YOU A LITTLE W OF CMK.' HE THEN ISSUED ME A R 230 DEG TURN AND ASKED ME TO TELL HIM WHEN I WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE 270 DEG RADIAL OUTBOUND. STILL CONFUSED, I EXECUTED TURN, ESTABLISHED ON RADIAL AND INFORMED ATC. I THEN FLEW OUT TO 9.6 DME (1.8 + 8 MI LEG) AND TURNED R. FLEW BACK TO 1.8 DME. TURNED R TO INTERCEPT 270 DEG RADIAL OUTBOUND. ATC CALLED AND ASKED WHAT I WAS DOING. I REPLIED ORBITING AS REQUESTED BTWN 1.8 AND 9.6. HE SAID HE MEANT 18! I THEN ACKNOWLEDGED 18 DME. FLEW TO DME 18 THEN CONTINUED TO DME 26 (18 + 8) ON THE 270 DEG RADIAL. ATC AGAIN QUESTIONED ME. I SAID I WAS PROCEEDING AS REQUESTED 18-26 MI DME (IE, 8 MI LEGS). HE SAID NO, HE WANTED ME TO HOLD BTWN 10-18 DME. I THEN HELD BTWN 10-18 DME. NO FURTHER PROB. THE PROB HERE IS, I BELIEVE, INCORRECT ATC PHRASING. THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN: 'HOLD E OF THE 18 DME FIX ON THE CMK 270 DEG RADIAL 4000 FT, R TURNS, 8 MI LEGS.' THE CTLR WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND CONSIDERATE AND WE WORKED TOGETHER TO PUT THE ACFT WHERE HE WANTED IT. BUT PERHAPS THEIR HELPFULNESS (IE, GIVING ME THE INTERCEPTING TURN) WAS PART OF THE PROB. I RARELY HOLD AT NONPUBLISHED INTXNS AND I'LL BET HE RARELY ISSUES SUCH HOLDS.

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.