YSCB R17 Night Approaches
Hmmm, this has all got a litle bit confusing guys, the rules about night instrument approaches going over to visual approaches are not a noose about our neck but the parachute harness.
Pardon me Hoss and Capt Cant - and others, Let's go back to the basic rules here and then to CC's quandry with CB ATC:
AIP/JEPP provided that are to be No visual approaches (at night) until within the circling area for your category of aircraft, unless your on the ILS or another type of instrument approach, and then no descent below the steps (lsalts) or MDA until you get to the circling area, either way you stay on the instrument approach and not below any safe altitude until you get within the circling area, simple. The issue of clear of cloud and in sight of ground or water is actually a trap qualification on the 'out' being discussed as they cannot be achieved at night.
Why? Well gents how do you propose to remain in "sight" of the ground at night? Answer - you cannot. If you could we would not need all those expensive runway and approach lights and GPWS systems would we?
Fly it any other way you risk getting dirt through the front window.
Now back to CB ATC and the visual onto R!7. No matter what ATC might like to offer, your flying the aircraft so you take the rap, that is what the CAR's say about command responsbiility. So if you don't know where the ground is in relation to your present position not below LSALT till you do. At night you only can have safely achieved that when your in the circling area at a circuit or downwind approach height having successfully passed all the up and down bits on the way down via an approach procedure. Figure out your own descent profile in advance and then manage it. The rest is something to sort out between your Chief Checkie or Pilot and ATC in CB so yo don't get offered short cuts you can't accept.
Other than that it is a case of how to finesse the whole process, seems there is some pretty smart advice already preceding mine.
Cheers and Safe Flying