When holding, do you adjust your timing on the inbound or outbound leg when compensating for winds?

When holding, adjustments for wind are primarily made on the outbound leg. This is because the outbound leg is when the aircraft is flying away from the holding fix, and therefore will experience the full effect of the wind, which can vary in strength and direction. To ensure that the aircraft arrives at the fix precisely at the end of the holding pattern, pilots typically adjust the outbound leg time to counteract the drift caused by the wind.

If the outbound leg is extended due to wind, the inbound leg will naturally be shorter, as the aircraft uses the correct timing to reach back to the holding fix. This is crucial for maintaining the intended holding pattern and ensuring that you can enter and exit the hold as required. Therefore, it is essential for pilots to be aware of the wind conditions and make the necessary adjustments to their outbound timing to ensure accuracy in their flight path.

Adjusting both legs equally or only the inbound leg would not effectively counteract wind drift and could lead to instability in the holding pattern. The correct approach is to focus on adjusting the outbound leg to maintain the integrity of the hold.