Doug wrote:

A pilot can use either technique. Depending on the pilot, the aircraft,
and the approach, there are positives and negatives to using dive and
drive vs. stabilized constant descent technique.

The accidents stats don't support any positives for dive-and-drive.



One thing you frequently hear is that you could IMMEDIATELY descend
(helicopter) to the next altitude once you pass the waypoint. NOT true.
There is a maximum decent allowed. I don't know what it is, and it is
quite steep, but it's not vertical.

What is the number? Why express any uncertainty? With one exception you
have full obstacle clearance at the earlist point at which a fix can be
received (i.e., considering adverse fix error).

The exception is in the non-precision final approach segment where a 7:1
gradient may, or may not, be applied to the FAF and/or some stepdown fix in
the final approach segment. A pilot has no way of determing from the
approach chart whether this design option has been applied (TERPs,
Paragraph 289).