# Visual Holding Pattern

> Visual guide for pilots to determine holding pattern entry techniques. (iPhone/iPad app by Arthur Varrassi.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-holding-pattern/id1003087844 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Arthur Varrassi](https://appshunter.io/developer/673243828)
- Category: Navigation, Reference
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 3.90/5 from 12 App Store ratings · 8 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 15 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-07-25
- Data updated: 2026-09-04
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-holding-pattern/id1003087844/reviews.md

## What is Visual Holding Pattern?

The Visual Holding Pattern provides a complete visual reference to help you determine the proper holding pattern entry technique based on your aircraft's heading and the holding pattern's inbound leg course. With a single finger rotation a pilot can easily orientate the holding pattern around a holding fix based on the inbound leg's desired bearing, radial, or course. The entire circular image can be rotated to match the aircraft's heading to allow the pilot to visualize the aircraft's approach to the holding pattern. The aircraft's heading can either be set manually or automatically based on the magnetic heading of the iDevice being used.

This app is designed for optimal viewing and use on an iPad or iPhone 5 screen size or larger. This app requires iOS 8.0 or greater.

## Key features

- Visual holding pattern reference
- Determine entry techniques
- Rotate holding pattern
- Match aircraft heading
- Manual heading input
- Automatic heading input

## Recent user reviews (8 of 8)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-holding-pattern/id1003087844/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great App…would love to discuss a more intuitive graphic idea

*2025-10-27*

This app is nicely done, allows an intuitive presentation of how the aircraft will arrive at the holding fix.   It’s based on the USA AIM and IFR Training Texts.  Unfortunately, in my basic man’s opinion(just a humble one), the FAA’s method is counter intuitive.  However this app makes it easier to see how the aircraft arrives at the fix allowing a more intuitive decision on type of entry.  Pictorializing the arriving aircraft’s orientation to the hold is this app’s goal and it attains this goal.

### 5/5 — Best in class

*2021-01-29*

Excellent product, very intuitive and on the mark! Even the compass function is very accurate and definitely helpful in flight. Highly recommended 👍

### 4/5 — Small Issue

*2021-01-08*

The App works great except the text size for the holding pattern info (degrees) is too large so it doesn’t display the entire radial/course. This is on an iPhone 12 w/o any text enlargement.

### 1/5 — 13.5

*2020-06-12*

Not supported screen new iphone

### 1/5 — App doesn’t work

*2020-05-13*

doesn’t not work correctly

**Developer response:** crjb737, I believe there are many other users of this app, including myself, who would disagree with you. The app works exactly as it should. Can you be a bit more specific as to what is not working for you?

### 5/5 — Very Clean & Simple App

*2019-06-30*

This is a great app. It’s very clean, intuitive, & simple to use. As a private pilot for over 20 years with an instrument rating, I’ve always carried a plastic “whiz wheel” holding pattern calculator very similar to this electronic version. These are hardly ever needed because the holding patterns required is usually quite obvious. However, these come in handy for confirmation when flying near the boundary between two zones. Since my iPad is always open when I’m flying using ForeFlight, it’s nice to now have this app on my iPad too. It’s unfortunate that one reviewer gave this app a 1 star & commented that this does not work in the US....that is clearly wrong. Such a low rating is undeserved, disrespectful to the author who obviously worked hard on it & coming from someone who obviously doesn’t know what they are talking about.

### 5/5 — Great app

*2019-03-25*

Very easy to operate ... very clear information.

### 1/5 — Incorrect Pattern

*2018-10-22*

I’m not sure what country this holding pattern is valid for, but it’s completely incorrect for the US. Please fix the pattern for the US. Thank you.

**Developer response:** rfreshour, please don't compare the pattern layout you see on the screen with what you may see in books or articles. Instead, compare the actual results of headings and entry procedures. I'm sure you will find them to be exactly right. I designed the layout to show the proper pattern entries and headings from the perspective of the aircraft's heading, not what it would look like on paper. Please let me know through the home page and email links I provide if you have any specific questions on the use of this app. Thanks.

## Frequently asked questions about Visual Holding Pattern

### What is the Visual Holding Pattern app?

The Visual Holding Pattern app provides pilots with a visual reference to determine the correct holding pattern entry technique based on their aircraft's heading and the pattern's inbound leg course.

### How does the Visual Holding Pattern app work?

You can rotate the holding pattern and your aircraft's heading to visualize the approach. The app allows for manual heading input or automatic input based on your device's magnetic heading.

### What devices is the Visual Holding Pattern app compatible with?

This app is designed for optimal viewing on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices and requires iOS 8.0 or greater.

### How much does the Visual Holding Pattern app cost?

The Visual Holding Pattern app is a paid application, available for $0.99.

### When was the Visual Holding Pattern app last updated?

The Visual Holding Pattern app was last updated on July 27, 2020, with version 1.4.0.

### What is the age rating for the Visual Holding Pattern app?

The Visual Holding Pattern app has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Does the Visual Holding Pattern app have ads?

No, the Visual Holding Pattern app does not contain advertisements.

### What is the user rating for the Visual Holding Pattern app?

The Visual Holding Pattern app has an average rating of 3.6 stars based on 9 user ratings.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.0 — 2020-07-27

This update allows a +/- 5 degree heading tolerance in determining the recommended pattern entry based on your heading. Many thanks to Murray Sissons for requesting this update. We take user feedback very seriously and will always listen to and consider update requests so please keep them coming.

### 1.3.0 — 2020-06-10

- Updated to display data fields properly while the device is in "Dark Mode". 
- Increased the brightness level of the suggested pattern entries (based on a user's request).

### 1.2.1 — 2019-12-17

- Updated to work with new iOS 13 User Interface
- Modified feature, trying to change the Pattern Heading with Compass Mode enabled was difficult to control. Now, if Compass Mode is selected, Pattern Heading will be de-selected but if Pattern Heading is selected then Compass Mode will be de-selected

Please tap on RATE THIS APP on the About screen to provide greatly appreciated feedback and rating.

### 1.2.0 — 2019-03-26

New feature added!! The much requested landscape mode support is now available when running this app on iPad devices. For iPhone devices, portrait mode only is available for both normal and upside down orientations.

Please continue providing feedback and suggestions and PLEASE provide a review and rating if you like this app.

### 1.0.1 — 2016-06-07

Updated to display properly with iOS 9

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## More apps by Arthur Varrassi

- [E6B Descent Planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/e6b-descent-planner/id673252710)
- [Visual Traffic Pattern](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-traffic-pattern/id917517114)

All apps by Arthur Varrassi: https://appshunter.io/developer/673243828

## Related topics

[visual holding pattern](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/visual-holding-pattern) · [holding pattern](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/holding-pattern) · [holding](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/holding) · [holding pattern otto pilot](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/holding-pattern-otto-pilot)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*