What is the action required when an arrival aircraft is holding due to ATC instructions?

When an arrival aircraft is holding due to ATC instructions, the action required is to maintain the holding pattern until further advised. This is essential for air traffic controllers to manage aircraft safely and efficiently within congested airspace. Holding patterns are predefined paths that aircraft fly while waiting for clearance to land, ensuring they remain safely separated from other traffic and are prepared for landing at the appropriate time.

Once an aircraft is instructed to hold, it must continue in that pattern unless otherwise directed by ATC. This allows controllers to manage the flow of arriving traffic and ensures that safety is the top priority. Maintaining the holding pattern keeps the aircraft in a controlled environment, which is vital especially in busy terminal airspace, where delays may occur due to weather, runway availability, or other operational considerations.

The other actions, while they may seem relevant, do not align with the immediate requirement once an aircraft has been instructed to hold: they may involve further steps that are not necessary at that instant.