20 years ago, at least
, the requirements for calculating the LSALT for Night VMC were different to those for IFR. (10 miles either side of track, instead of 12.5º+5 miles, from old memory). For a couple of regular destinations, I would fish out a WAC chart, and work out a night VMC LSALT, which was usually quite a bit lower than the IFR LSALT. If inbound and visual at night, I could then descend to that lower LSALT, and descend in the circuit once within the circling area.