On 4 Jan 2005 22:56:49 -0800, "hsm" wrote:

I appreciate eveyone's input. I sense that there is no clearcut answer.
The stepdown minimums are obviously there for a reason. On the other
hand, one would be allowed to fly a descent path of one owns choosing
when a visual approach clearance is issued.

The controller is often not aware if one is flying in IMC or VMC. What
is one to do on a approach when you have stepped down into VMC
conditions and the controller yells out an altitude and terrain alert?

If you are legally below the charted altitude, which means you have the
runway in sight and are making a normal approach, then I would say "Roger"
(after double checking to be sure that everything was OK).

But I've gotten low altitude alerts on occasion even when on a glide path
(needles centered). I am told you can also trigger the alert by descending
more rapidly than the computer thinks you should (on a non-precision
approach) -- this may be OK for a transport category jet aircraft, and not
necessarily applicable to a small Part 91 CAT A a/c.



Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)