Adding a runway when the approach doesn't have one

[Will]

Regarding circling approaches... The published approach and the FMC approach will have a missed approach procedure, but no specified runway. And yet, you have a runway in mind that you want to land on, so for situational awareness, it might be helpful to have the runway shown on the ND.

The LEGS page(s) looks like this when the approach is loaded:

IAF
FAF
MISS (first missed approach waypoint)
HOLD (missed approach hold)

But if you just put the runway (hypothetically RW18) in the LEGS page after the FAF, you get this:

IAF
FAF
RW18

And the missed approach segments are deleted.

So to keep the approach intact, you could add a DISCO at the end of the approach and then add the runway after that, like this:

IAF
FAF
MISS
HOLD
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
RW18

Now, you get the whole approach on the ND, including the runway with its extended center line.

Question: is this the right way to do it? Is there a more common way?

[Britjet]

Yes, that's how we used to do it.
Peter.

[Will]

Adding a question to this old thread... is there a way to use VNAV on circling approaches?

Or do you do it the old GA way with basic modes, like with ALT until established on final and then hand flying for the descent?

[Mawea]

Or do you do it the old GA way with basic modes  , like with ALT until established on final and then hand flying for the descent?

Hi Will,

yes, definitely with basic modes (ALT or ALT HOLD, HDG and Clock) at least after reaching the circling altitude. You will be on the visual segment and keep the outside and field in sight not too much head down and inside.

Best regards
Jay