Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
Upon our arrival into Calgary (CYYC); approach descended us to 5;500 MSL at least 15 miles out. They vectored us to a visual approach to Runway 16; and as we intercepted the LOC; we started a descent to 4;000 FT; believing that was the glide slope intercept altitude; which was; in fact; 4;800 FT. The visual cues from the wider than normal runway indicated we were possibly slightly low. We then got a 'too low; gear' warning and at approximately 600 FT RA; the gear was lowered and we intercepted the glide slope. The landing was normal and the weather conditions were VFR and clear. Approach descended us down far out and low. This; along with the wide runway; created visual cues that were non normal.
A319 Captain reports getting low during a visual approach to CYYC due to an early descent by ATC and the visual perception of the wide runway. The EGPWS sounds a gear warning at 600 FT; the gear is extended and the approach continued to landing.