Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
On a VFR aproach into ZZZ on base leg; airport was lost; could not see it for few seconds before we saw it again. I was getting ready to go around when we saw airport again but were low; re-aligned with runway and slowed descent to aline with VSI lights followed by a normal landing. We were given a VFR approach too runway XX at ZZZ. We started approach on a downwind as we begain descent and turning on base leg; I lost sight of the runway while looking for runway and prepairing for going around we decended to about 500 ft AGL prior to starting the go around we saw the runway and continued approach to a landing.
Day 1 / Leg 3 / Night VMC / Visual Approach (backed up with an RNAV) / ZZZ Visual Approach runway XX / Left Traffic Pattern.  I had done 2 legs already before I met up with my Captain(CA).  He had dropped the first 2 legs and it was his first leg after several weeks of not flying.  I myself had never worked with him before.  It was our very first leg working together.  He was PF I was PM.  All through out the flight we did a good job and everything was SOP.   As we got into the approach into ZZZ we were handed of to ZZZZ Approach.  They asked us to expect runway XX visual approach.  This runway only has a RNAV approach.  We initially were given right traffic for the airport but we asked left traffic so that the CA can see everything from his side.  ATC assigned us left traffic however clearly stated that we must stay with in 5 NM of the airport because we were number 1 in line and there were 2 other airliners behind us.  As we were downwind crossing the numbers we were fully configured; we were assigned 2600 feet msl.  The CA flew the downwind leg until we were roughly abeam ZZZZZ intersection and then initiated a turn to base.  Right at that time I felt that we initiated the base leg too quickly; because I prefer to extend my downwind legs.  The CA started descending during the turn and because I was on the right side I could not see where we were in reference to the runway.  We heard 1000 feet AGL from the Radar Altimeter and I remember repeating the altitude to him again on the turn.  Still descending and turning and then I heard 500 feet where I raised my voice and said '500 do you have it; I don't see anything??' He said I lost the runway and then started climbing again.  Then he reacquired the runway and continued with the approach and landed.  He did not call for the landing checklist I had to promp for it.  After this correction and climbing up; everything was fine and we landed.  After getting to the gate we went over the approach and agreed that a go around should have been done.  CA was apologetic for the whole thing and agreed that we must file an ASAP.   The CA hadn't flown in several weeks.   ATC instructed us to stay between a 5 miles from the airport during the approach because we were number 1 in line for landing.   Night conditions.  The Company needs to adopt a new policy where we reject any approach clearance that tells us to stay within 5 miles of the airport.  Time after time we do unstable approaches because ATC does not give us room and treats us as a single engine piston aircraft.  We need a policy that tells us to be lined up with the runway before reaching the final approach fix of ANY visual approach.
Airline Pilots reported an unstable approach. The Captain had not flown for an extended time.