An air carrier aircraft egpws alerted caution terrain on the downwind for a bhm runway 6 visual and ...

Narrative:

Having previously flown as the pilot flying into bhm just once or twice; and then in MVFR/IFR conditions; I was the pilot flying. As such; I had never personally seen the 2;049 ft tower depicted on the ILS 06 approach chart. Unfortunately; today I completely overlooked this potential obstacle when I briefed the visual approach for runway 06 backed up by the ILS. We had been cleared down to 3;000 ft approximately 10 miles southeast of the field when bhm approach cleared us for the visual and told us to contact tower. I then dialed the FAF ('mcden') crossing altitude of 2;200 ft into the MCP altitude window; began a descent to that altitude; and proceeded direct to mcden. The plan was to level off at 2;200 ft some three miles prior to mcden and then continue slowing and configuring. At approximately 2;300 ft the captain noticed and called out the tower; which was nearly directly in front of us; at an estimated distance of 1.5 miles; and looking nearly at our same altitude. I immediately clicked off the autothrottles and autopilot and commenced a gentle climb (we reached nearly 3;000 ft). Just after I commenced the climb; the egpws sounded 'obstacle.' the captain then contacted bhm tower; advised that we were high; and requested that we be allowed to cross then return to the localizer from the opposite side; in order to conclude a successful approach. The tower approved and cleared us to land. Crossing the obstacle tower; I continued configuring and slowing and; after we crossed the localizer; a 30-degree banked turn and a 1;000 ft/minute descent allowed us to be configured; stable; and on the localizer and glideslope at approximately 1;000 ft AGL. The remainder of the approach and landing were uneventful. Closer attention to detail on the approach plate; and to other notes and warnings provided in our [chart] package; would likely have caused me to notice; brief; and better avoid this obstacle. However; I also find it curious that ATC never mentioned what I suspect is a commonly encountered threat; at least for aircraft arriving from the southeast conducting visual approaches to runway 06.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier aircraft EGPWS alerted CAUTION TERRAIN on the downwind for a BHM Runway 6 visual and so the crew climbed slightly to avoid the tall tower but were high on final requiring delaying turns.

Narrative: Having previously flown as the pilot flying into BHM just once or twice; and then in MVFR/IFR conditions; I was the pilot flying. As such; I had never personally seen the 2;049 FT tower depicted on the ILS 06 approach chart. Unfortunately; today I completely overlooked this potential obstacle when I briefed the visual approach for Runway 06 backed up by the ILS. We had been cleared down to 3;000 FT approximately 10 miles southeast of the field when BHM Approach cleared us for the visual and told us to contact Tower. I then dialed the FAF ('MCDEN') crossing altitude of 2;200 FT into the MCP altitude window; began a descent to that altitude; and proceeded direct to MCDEN. The plan was to level off at 2;200 FT some three miles prior to MCDEN and then continue slowing and configuring. At approximately 2;300 FT the Captain noticed and called out the tower; which was nearly directly in front of us; at an estimated distance of 1.5 miles; and looking nearly at our same altitude. I immediately clicked off the autothrottles and autopilot and commenced a gentle climb (we reached nearly 3;000 FT). Just after I commenced the climb; the EGPWS sounded 'obstacle.' The Captain then contacted BHM Tower; advised that we were high; and requested that we be allowed to cross then return to the Localizer from the opposite side; in order to conclude a successful approach. The Tower approved and cleared us to land. Crossing the obstacle tower; I continued configuring and slowing and; after we crossed the Localizer; a 30-degree banked turn and a 1;000 FT/minute descent allowed us to be configured; stable; and on the Localizer and glideslope at approximately 1;000 FT AGL. The remainder of the approach and landing were uneventful. Closer attention to detail on the approach plate; and to other notes and warnings provided in our [chart] package; would likely have caused me to notice; brief; and better avoid this obstacle. However; I also find it curious that ATC never mentioned what I suspect is a commonly encountered threat; at least for aircraft arriving from the southeast conducting visual approaches to Runway 06.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1063801
Time
Date	201301
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	BHM.Airport
State Reference	AL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 187 Flight Crew Type 445
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 159 Flight Crew Type 159
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

An air carrier aircraft egpws alerted caution terrain on the downwind for a bhm runway 6 visual and so the crew climbed slightly to avoid the tall tower but were high on final requiring delaying turns.