Gary Drescher wrote:

wrote in message
...
The rule is obviously designed to allow the pilot to descend for
landing as soon as the requirements for a safe execution of the visual
portion of the approach has been met..

I don't see why an intermediate segment altitude would override that,
with the caveat that one needs to be absolutely certain that visual
conditions will remain the rest of the way.

After all, we have the runway environment in sight, don't forget, so
we are probably talking at least 2-3 miles or more visibility, if we
see the runway environment at a stepdown altitude.

Yes, that strikes me as the best way to make sense of the rule's intention.
Still, the rule doesn't actually say that, so I share the OP's sense of
uncertainty as to the technicality. I wonder if any FSDOs have issued
opinions on this question.


What worth is a FSDO opinion? A legal interp from general counsel is fine, but
not what some inspector thinks.