VDP Limitations

Say youre flying to Asheville, North Carolina on a rainy IMC day. The visibility is hovering around a mile and a half and the ceiling is 1200 feet. ATC has you on vectors for the RNAV (GPS) RWY 34. Without a WAAS GPS in your Turbo Bugsmasher, youre stuck with the LNAV minimums. The weather is above the Category B minimums that youll be using, so you shouldnt have any problems. Right?

Key Takeaways:

• Even when reported ceiling and visibility meet approach minimums, the visibility might be less than the Visual Descent Point (VDP) distance, making it unlikely to spot the runway at the VDP and potentially leading to an unsafe, steep descent below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA).
• This issue arises because there is no direct relationship between how non-precision approach visibility minimums are determined and the VDP's location.
• The VDP is crucial for executing a stabilized, normal descent on non-precision approaches, but pilots must be aware that VDPs may not always be published or applicable due to factors like obstacles or specific altimeter settings, requiring caution if estimating one.

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