AN ACR LGT HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING A PROPER HIGH ALT HOLDING PATTERN IN A VERY HIGH XWINDS ALOFT.

Narrative

CLRED TO HOLD SW OF PXT VOR 046 DEGS; 25 MI; L TURNS; 15 MI LEGS AT FL350 DUE SEVERE WX AT EWR. WIND WAS ESTIMATED AT 270 DEGS AT 100 KTS AND WE HAD ONLY VOR/DME NAV. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE SW BOUNDARIES OF THE PATTERN DUE TO EXTREME DRIFT CORRECTION NEEDED. IT TOOK 15 DEGS INBOUND TO MAINTAIN TRACK AND 30 DEGS OUTBOUND FROM HOLDING FIX. AT 10 DME; YOU COULD BE W OF THE VOR OR S OF THE VOR IF YOU DIDN'T PAY CLOSE ATTN TO THE RMI. ALT WAS CHANGED EVERY 1 OR 2 TURNS AND WINDS NATURALLY CHANGED A COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO THE CTLR ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF MAINTAINING THE PATTERN AND HIS COMMENT WAS 'OTHER PLANES AREN'T HAVING PROBS.' THIS PATTERN WAS IN THE CONE OF CONFUSION FOR VOR AND TOO CLOSE TO THE STATION FOR THE SIT. AN ADVANCED NAV PLANE COULD HAVE HELD EASILY; BUT OUR ANTIQUATED SYS REQUIRED MAX WORKLOAD FOR NEARLY 1 1/2 HRS TO HOLD. CTLR ALSO WAS WORKING LGA FLTS AND CLRING OTHER PLANES TO OUR ALTS; INCREASING STRESS. HE DID LATER REDUCE PATTERN SIZE TO 10 MI LEGS BUT INBOUND LEG WAS ABOUT 30 SECONDS.