Max Angle,
Yes, would agree, it is a rather inappropriate maneuver, but sometimes necessary to get into some 'lesser-developed' airfields or...developed ones after certain hours (hello ZRH).
SaudiArabian had fitted to their TriStars the latest and greatest (at the time) FMS, which was built by Litton, IIRC (circa 1979).
Full area nav capability,
full performance/thrust management (all regimes of flight, except takeoff) and, it also had
full vertical nav capability as well. The VNAV for descent could be pilot programmed for non precision approaches, altho it was not so certified.
Recall one Captain, who was very adapt at this programming
until one day getting up close and personal with a hill just south of Madina...strangly, he lost interest after that...
