Arriving at the 15 DME fix, what holding pattern complies with the ATC clearance to hold west of the fix?

The correct holding pattern that complies with the ATC clearance to hold west of the 15 DME fix is a direct entry. In a direct entry holding pattern, the aircraft approaches the holding fix and proceeds directly into the pattern with no additional routing or maneuvering required before joining the hold.

When holding west of a fix, the aircraft would fly directly to the fix on the inbound leg and then proceed on a standard holding pattern, typically making a 180-degree turn to the left to enter the hold. This method is both straightforward and efficient, allowing the pilot to maintain situational awareness and meet the requirements of the ATC instructions.

In contrast, other entry types such as teardrop and parallel require an initial turn away from the holding pattern before joining it, which may not be necessary or efficient when the instruction is to hold directly at that position. An offset entry is not applicable in this scenario as it typically would involve flying to a point offset from the holding pattern, which can also complicate adherence to the original ATC clearance.