Under which conditions would you typically not have a VDP?

In the context of aviation and instrument approaches, a Visual Descent Point (VDP) is a specific point on the final approach course that allows pilots to safely descend to the runway while maintaining the necessary visual references. Typically, you would not have a VDP during a circling approach because these approaches are designed to transition from an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) approach to a visual phase of flight, allowing pilots to fly to a runway that is not aligned with the instrument approach.

Circling approaches require pilots to maintain visual references to navigate to the appropriate runway, and the maneuver often involves more complex lateral navigation compared to straight-in approaches with established VDPs. Since the pilot relies on visual cues and the conditions are often more variable during a circling approach, the concept of a stable VDP does not apply, as the descent will ultimately depend on visual references rather than a defined point on the approach path.