AN ERJ145 FLC FLIES 15 NM ON THEIR HOLDING PATTERN WHICH CAUSES THE CTLR TO INQUIRE AS TO WHY SO FAR; EXPECTING A 10 NM LEG AT HELON; NY.

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DUE TO TFC CONGESTION AND WX IN THE NEW YORK AREA; OUR FLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO HOLD AT HELON INTXN FOR APPROX 45 MINS. OUR LAST CLRNC BEFORE WAS DIRECT HELON FROM THE SYR VOR AREA. HOLD WAS ENTERED IN FMS AS PUBLISHED AND FMS SHOWED PARALLEL ENTRY. INFO ENTERED WAS VERIFIED BY BOTH CAPT AND FO AS ACCURATE. AFTER ENTRY OVER HELON; COORD WAS BEING PLANNED WITH COMPANY; FUEL BURN; TIME LEFT; ETC. OUTBOUND ON PARALLEL ENTRY; ATC INFORMED TO GO AHEAD AND TURN INBOUND TO THE PUBLISHED HOLDING PATTERN. A COUPLE OF TURNS LATER; ATC INQUIRED WHY WE WENT OUTBOUND FOR 15 MI INSTEAD OF PUBLISHED. VERIFIED FMS AGAIN AND STILL SHOWED 1 1/2 MIN TURNS (ABOVE 14000 FT) AND EVERYTHING ACCURATE. EVENTUALLY LEFT HOLD AND PROCEEDED TO EWR. THERE WAS A FAIRLY STRONG TAILWIND ASSOCIATED WITH OUTBOUND COURSE OF HOLD. MY ONLY GUESS IS BECAUSE HOLD IS NOT A MILEAGE TRACK; FMS WAITED FOR TIME ALLOTMENT AND THEN TURNED INBOUND WITH HVY TAILWIND. BOTH CREW MEMBERS WERE ENDING A 7 HR 51 MIN FLT DAY WITH BAD WX AT ALL 5 STOPS. DUTY DAY WAS 13 HRS LONG AT THAT POINT.