Narrative:

During approach to rno we had been cleared to 9;000 feet MSL and were given clearance for a visual approach to runway 16R. Commenced a base turn about 4 miles outside the final approach fix dicey. Started a descent to 6;400 feet MSL; the minimum at dicey. I armed the approach tile and turned a 45-degree turn to final. Passing through about 7;000 feet MSL the glide slope captured and we continued the descent. As we approached 6;400 feet MSL we got a 'terrain' caution and yellow terrain showed up on the navigation display (nd). As we analyzed the warning; tower made a 'low' alert call as I disconnected the autopilot; added power and corrected the situation. We climbed back above 6;400 feet MSL to 6;600 feet MSL. We were visually able to acquire the terrain and avoided it. Re-automated the aircraft and continued the approach to landing. Contributing factors were accepting a visual approach in the high terrain environment that the crew hadn't been to in a while. Also didn't notice the hill at 6;219 feet under the final approach course between takle and dicey on the approach plate. The FMS only showed takle at 8;200 feet and dicey at 6;400 feet. Leading me to think that going down to 6;400 feet inside takle was ok. Should have waited until we had intercepted the final course before starting the descent. I was close to the final course and descended as if we were in a level terrain. Carefully review the approach especially when the crew hadn't been to rno in a long time. Clear weather doesn't do away with the need for a thorough review of all aspects of the approach. The altitude indication of the terrain on final appears to be west of the final approach course; and the arrow pointing to the actual terrain was not very obvious. Also could have asked for the full ILS approach. After landing; we talked to our jumpseater; who is an airbus pilot. He said an airbus crew had a similar event and that this scenario is part of the airbus simulator training. There was nothing in the notams or on the approach or company pages alerting crews to the possible dangers of turning inside takle. I normally review boeing reports; but don't normally review airbus reports. Since this was so important to be integrated to the airbus training scenario; something should have been passed to any/all crews operating into rno. There are notes on the company page about the missed approach gradient; so a warning about this should be added.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier flight crew experiences an EGPWS terrain warning along with an ATC low altitude alert during a night visual approach to Runway 16R at RNO.

Narrative: During approach to RNO we had been cleared to 9;000 feet MSL and were given clearance for a visual approach to Runway 16R. Commenced a base turn about 4 miles outside the final approach fix DICEY. Started a descent to 6;400 feet MSL; the minimum at DICEY. I armed the approach tile and turned a 45-degree turn to final. Passing through about 7;000 feet MSL the glide slope captured and we continued the descent. As we approached 6;400 feet MSL we got a 'Terrain' caution and yellow terrain showed up on the navigation display (ND). As we analyzed the warning; Tower made a 'low' alert call as I disconnected the autopilot; added power and corrected the situation. We climbed back above 6;400 feet MSL to 6;600 feet MSL. We were visually able to acquire the terrain and avoided it. Re-automated the aircraft and continued the approach to landing. Contributing factors were accepting a visual approach in the high terrain environment that the crew hadn't been to in a while. Also didn't notice the hill at 6;219 feet under the final approach course between TAKLE and DICEY on the approach plate. The FMS only showed TAKLE at 8;200 feet and DICEY at 6;400 feet. Leading me to think that going down to 6;400 feet inside TAKLE was OK. Should have waited until we had intercepted the final course before starting the descent. I was close to the final course and descended as if we were in a level terrain. Carefully review the approach especially when the crew hadn't been to RNO in a long time. Clear weather doesn't do away with the need for a thorough review of all aspects of the approach. The altitude indication of the terrain on final appears to be west of the final approach course; and the arrow pointing to the actual terrain was not very obvious. Also could have asked for the full ILS approach. After landing; we talked to our jumpseater; who is an Airbus pilot. He said an Airbus crew had a similar event and that this scenario is part of the Airbus simulator training. There was nothing in the NOTAMs or on the approach or company pages alerting crews to the possible dangers of turning inside TAKLE. I normally review Boeing reports; but don't normally review Airbus reports. Since this was so important to be integrated to the Airbus training scenario; something should have been passed to any/all crews operating into RNO. There are notes on the company page about the missed approach gradient; so a warning about this should be added.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.