Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Aircraft
Unsure of what the cause was. The Controller said that 3;000 feet was the minimum vectoring altitude at that point. The aircraft took off from ZZZ enroute to MDT. After being told to proceed direct to HAR VOR from Center; unsure of which Center; was then handed off to Harrisburg Approach; we were told to descend to 3;000 feet; and then handed off to Harrisburg Tower. Passing over the HAR VOR at 3;000 feet per ATC instructions we were cleared for the straight in ILS 13 approach from Tower; that is when we received a EGPWS terrain warning alarm. I was the Pilot Flying at the time and executed the terrain avoidance procedure. Reaching 3;600 feet the warning stopped and the Tower Controller asked about the sudden change in altitude. We leveled off picked up on the glideslope and continued to land without incident. The Captain asked for the number to the Tower and called when we landed to see why it occurred. The Tower Controller had apparently already been relieved from the shift at that point.This approach should be reviewed by the FAA to ensure that the TERPS minima is still active near the HAR VOR. The MSA is 3;400 feet and aircraft are being sent below the MSA by the controllers.
Air carrier First Officer reported being vectored below MSA during approach to MDT airport; resulting in a GPWS warning.