Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Training / Qualification; Confusion
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Holding instructions were issued to hold west of the fix on a radial. The FMS was programmed to perform all aspects of the hold correctly but east of the fix instead of west. The hold was programmed by the flying pilot and confirmed by the non-flying pilot. ATC noted the mistake after the hold was entered and it was corrected.The mistake was attributed to the assumption that ATC preferred the hold be conducted on the inbound radial to the fix which resulted in a pattern on the east side. Although the direction was to hold west; and the read back was to hold west; fixation on this assumption resulted in incorrect programming and subsequent deviation. The mistake would have been caught prior to entering the hold except that other concerns about holding speed; fuel capacity; and changing weather at the destination prevailed.The immediate priority was to follow the instructions from ATC and the other issues were secondary. The mistake could have been avoided with proper prioritization and dealing with the immediate task at hand.
CRJ-700 flight crew held east of a fix rather than west as directed by ATC due to the erroneous belief that they should hold on the inbound radial to the fix.