Method and apparatus for managing instrument missed approaches

A computer implemented method for managing missed approaches, the computer implemented method comprising:

• responsive to detecting a condition requiring missing an approach to a runway on which the aircraft was to land by an aircraft, identifying a location of the aircraft and identifying the runway on which the aircraft was to land;
• responsive to identifying the runway on which the aircraft was to land, identifying a plurality of waypoints associated with that runway, wherein each waypoint is associated with a particular missed approach route in a plurality of missed approach routes that may be taken for an approach to the runway;
• selecting a missed approach route from the plurality of missed approach routes for the runaway based on the location of the aircraft and the runway on which the aircraft was to land to form a selected missed approach route;
• and
• changing a route of the aircraft using the selected missed approach route.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transient computer readable medium having computer readable program code for managing missed approaches to runways, the computer program product comprising:
• computer readable program code for monitoring for an event requiring missing an approach to a runway by an aircraft while a movement of the aircraft along a route is being controlled by a flight management system;
• computer readable program code, responsive to detecting the event, for identifying a location of the aircraft to form an identified location and identifying the runway on which the aircraft was to land;
• computer readable program code, responsive to identifying the runway on which the aircraft was to land, identifying a plurality of waypoints associated with that runway, wherein each waypoint is associated with a particular missed approach route in a plurality of missed approach routes that may be taken for an approach to the runway;
• computer readable program code for comparing the identified location of the aircraft to the plurality of waypoints for the plurality of missed approach routes to identify an active waypoint in the plurality of waypoints closest to the aircraft to form an identified waypoint;
• and
• computer readable program code for executing a missed approach route from the plurality of missed approach routes associated with the identified waypoint for the aircraft.