Narrative:

While being vectored for a visual approach on left base in VMC to runway 19L at las and at MVA of 5100 ft we heard another carrier airbus report to approach control that they received a GPWS warning. We were more alert and aware of the ridge ahead and though it was nighttime we had the terrain in sight. As we were being vectored we also received a GPWS pull up command. The captain immediately responded and no sooner the warning went away. I estimate that the warning lasted 2 seconds as the ridge is narrow and we passed it quickly. We also informed approach of control our warning and the controller responded that the MVA was 5100 ft. I am writing this to inform the proper authorities about this unique situation. I do not see a terrain threat as we know the ridge is 4124 ft MSL and MVA is 5100 ft. My concern is that we and other operators will continue to experience GPWS warnings while being vectored for visuals which create dangerous situations and urgent action on the pilots' part. I hope that efforts will be taken to increase MVA by 100-200 ft to avoid GPWS warnings which creates urgent situations and possibly scares passenger. Please increase the MVA over the obstacle in question approximately 10 NM northeast of las. GPWS warning while being vectored at min. Vector altitude of 5100 ft MSL.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW MEMBER EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING LAS MVA OF 5100 FT 10 MILES NE OF ARPT THAT TRIGGERED GPWS EVEN DURING VECTORS FOR VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH ON LEFT BASE IN VMC TO RWY 19L AT LAS AND AT MVA OF 5100 FT WE HEARD ANOTHER CARRIER AIRBUS RPT TO APCH CONTROL THAT THEY RECEIVED A GPWS WARNING. WE WERE MORE ALERT AND AWARE OF THE RIDGE AHEAD AND THOUGH IT WAS NIGHTTIME WE HAD THE TERRAIN IN SIGHT. AS WE WERE BEING VECTORED WE ALSO RECEIVED A GPWS PULL UP COMMAND. THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED AND NO SOONER THE WARNING WENT AWAY. I ESTIMATE THAT THE WARNING LASTED 2 SECONDS AS THE RIDGE IS NARROW AND WE PASSED IT QUICKLY. WE ALSO INFORMED APCH OF CTL OUR WARNING AND THE CTLR RESPONDED THAT THE MVA WAS 5100 FT. I AM WRITING THIS TO INFORM THE PROPER AUTHORITIES ABOUT THIS UNIQUE SITUATION. I DO NOT SEE A TERRAIN THREAT AS WE KNOW THE RIDGE IS 4124 FT MSL AND MVA IS 5100 FT. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE AND OTHER OPERATORS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE GPWS WARNINGS WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR VISUALS WHICH CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND URGENT ACTION ON THE PILOTS' PART. I HOPE THAT EFFORTS WILL BE TAKEN TO INCREASE MVA BY 100-200 FT TO AVOID GPWS WARNINGS WHICH CREATES URGENT SITUATIONS AND POSSIBLY SCARES PAX. PLEASE INCREASE THE MVA OVER THE OBSTACLE IN QUESTION APPROX 10 NM NORTHEAST OF LAS. GPWS WARNING WHILE BEING VECTORED AT MIN. VECTOR ALTITUDE OF 5100 FT MSL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.