But, I ask you, what's the difference of flying a rate-of-descent or descent angle?
We do both at our mob, as the situation dictates.
The
idea is to have the longest possible
time to find the runway, and thereafter land, using normal rates of descent whilst doing so.
I can appreciate why some airlines use CDA, especially larger ones with possibly quite junior First Offciers, however...we have experienced F/O's with good experience on type (L1011) and therefore can indeed fly level at the MDA and/or circle at the MDA, and actually land at destination, rather than diverting.
All it takes is practise.
I suspect the real reason why airlines today do not use dive/drive (and/or circling) is it takes training
time and this equates to proper funding...so the easy way out is CDA
Therefore, all the diatribe about CDA being somehow 'safer' is nonsense.
It is only safer for those that do
not know how to do otherwise...properly.