holding pattern

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holding pattern

1. A usually oval pattern flown by aircraft awaiting clearance to land at an airport.

2. Informal A state of waiting or delay; a static situation: environmental groups that wish to put oil exploration into a holding pattern.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

holding pattern

(Aeronautics) the oval or circular path of an aircraft flying around an airport awaiting permission to land

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

hold′ing pat`tern

1. a traffic course held by aircraft at a specified location until cleared for landing.

2. a condition of no progress or change.

[1950–55]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	holding pattern - a state of inaction with no progress and no change; "you should go into a holding pattern until he gets over his disappointment" inaction, inactiveness, inactivity - the state of being inactive
	2.	holding pattern - the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land air lane, skyway, airway, flight path - a designated route followed by airplanes in flying from one airport to another

Translations

holding pattern

n (Aer) → circuito di attesa

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in periodicals archive ?

They were also put in a holding pattern while they investigated the problem.

Who's minding the store? A VIEW FROM DAVE TROTT

"We have got the cancer in a holding pattern GEORGE ALAGIAH on his bbc tv comeback

Good news.. George has returned to our screens; TV anchor comes back to work after taking year off for cancer treatment

Aviation Mobile Apps, LLC has announced it has implemented patent-pending analytic solutions to its holding pattern app, enabling pilots to roll out onto the inbound leg and fly for exactly the prescribed time or distance, regardless of wind direction and speed, the company said.

Aviation Mobile Apple implements analytic solutions to holding pattern app

SAFE Flybe flight BE331 made emergency landing at Belfast after burning fuel in holding pattern for two hours

FRIGHT FLIGHT; Jet is forced to land on two wheels after nose gear fails

"While further investigations took place, several approaching aircraft were put into a holding pattern for a short time before being advised to land.

Police warn over drones as planes forced to swerve

When the drone was spotted close to the airspace aeroplanes on their way in to land at Newcastle were put into a holding pattern, forcing the planes to loop in the air before they could land safely.

Aeroplanes forced to dodge drone; drone users could be prosecuted, police warn

to request the hold from ATC: "The holding pattern maneuver is completed when the aircraft is established on the inbound course after executing the appropriate entry.

Hold VS. HILPT

HONG KONG, 14 Shawwal,1437 AH, 19 July,2016 , SPA -- Asian stocks were mostly lower Tuesday as investors stuck to a holding pattern as they awaited more corporate earnings and a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the week, AP reported.

Most Asian stocks fall as investors assess global conditions

Missing its first approach, the plane entered a holding pattern for two hours as it waited for the weather to improve.

Newly released video showing Russian plane crash

The plane was earlier in the day in a holding pattern near Japan as organisers warned that bad weather in the days ahead could block its ambitious bid to cross the Pacific.

Solar Impulse plane to land in Japan due to bad weather

If we maintain instrument currency through recent activity, we have to log a holding pattern within the past six months.

Hold me, thrill me: if you're doing them right, holds are anything but thrilling. but they can be useful at times

That suit, which seeks the forfeiture of some $8 million worth of real estate, vehicles and cash, has been in a holding pattern since last September, when U.S.