Cowboy, Amos? I think it is gone already but thanks for the suggestion.
I did the FAA check ride and the examiner was adamant that I could not descend until on final. Maybe they are not up with their own regs.
As it happens I do fly big airplanes and the FAA (and comanpy limit) restricts us to 1000 feet/3 miles for circling, which is always way above the Category D minima. I therefore can descend to remain clear of cloud and still maintain terrain clearance. But can I do it legally?
But I would still consider it makes more sense to remain visual during the approach rather than fly at the circling minima if this altitude keeps me at the cloud base and unable to see where I am going.
What happened to common sense?