What is the maximum leg time for holding altitude below 14,000 feet MSL?

The maximum leg time for holding altitude below 14,000 feet MSL is 1 minute. This regulation is primarily in place to ensure the efficient management of air traffic and to minimize congestion in the airspace. When an aircraft is holding at or below this altitude, limiting the leg time to 1 minute allows pilots to maintain a safe and efficient flow of air traffic without causing undue delays.

In practice, a holding pattern consists of two legs, and since the leg time is capped at 1 minute, pilots must execute the holding pattern promptly and efficiently. This regulation is particularly important in busy airspace or during instances of traffic delay, where adherence to timing helps maintain order and safety.

When the altitude is above 14,000 feet MSL, longer holding times may be permissible because the traffic density and air traffic management considerations may differ, thus reflecting the need for different operational constraints in those environments.