How should a pilot compensate for strong headwinds while holding?

Compensating for strong headwinds while holding is crucial for maintaining the desired flight path and timing. When a pilot is in a holding pattern and faces strong headwinds on the outbound leg, the aircraft will take longer to reach the designated point for the turn back towards the inbound leg.

By increasing the outbound timing, the pilot allows for the additional time it takes to fly against the headwind. This adjustment helps to ensure that the aircraft remains on track and adheres to the published holding instructions, allowing for a consistent and accurate approach to the established holding fix.

This approach effectively compensates for the wind's influence, enabling the pilot to maintain control and predictability during the hold. In contrast, the other strategies would likely lead to inconsistent timing and potential navigation issues, as they do not adequately address the time lost due to the headwind. Maintaining the planned timing without adjustments could result in arriving too early on the inbound leg, which could create traffic conflicts or an unstable approach to the next maneuver.