What should a pilot report when reaching a holding fix?

When a pilot reaches a holding fix, it is essential to report their position and altitude to air traffic control (ATC). This communication helps ATC maintain situational awareness of the aircraft's location and altitude, allowing for effective traffic management, especially in busy airspace. Reporting position is typically the fix name or a radial and distance from a VOR, while altitude ensures that ATC knows the height at which the aircraft is operating, which is crucial for separation from other aircraft.

Other reporting requirements surrounding holding patterns focus on the time in the hold or any changes needed, but the primary information required upon reaching the fix is the position and altitude. This key reporting practice is part of maintaining safety and efficiency during the holding procedure, which is often implemented during periods of congestion or delays in landing clearance.