EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors
We were descending into SJC; I was PM and the Captain was PF. We were coming from the north and were placed on a southeasterly heading at 5100 ft MSL we were cleared for a visual approach into 30L. The Captain set 2800 ft into the altitude pre-select in preparation for the final approach fix and set the descent mode to FLCH. As we began our descent from 5100 ft I told the Captain 'all we have to worry about is the big hill up ahead'. I did not hear a verbal response from the Captain; but several seconds after I made my statement he started turning to the east towards the airport and lowering terrain. As we descended through 4000 ft my terrain page started to change from green to yellow indications; seconds later we received a terrain caution advisory. I parroted the advisory and said 'terrain'. The Captain continued the turn towards the airport and lowering terrain while attempting to adjust the descent rate. Moments later at around 3800 ft MSL; we received a terrain GPWS advisory message. The Captain disconnected the auto pilot and began a climb and I called out his airspeed. We climbed to an altitude of roughly 4100 ft MSL and the GPWS advisory was canceled. After the advisory was canceled we were on a base leg for the airport and continued in and made an uneventful landing.The Captain selected FLCH for the descent mode and the result was a rate of descent that possibly triggered the GPWS. I should have verified that the Captain was aware of the terrain ahead of us and was accounting for it in his descent planning.
EMB-175 First Officer reported climbing in response to a GPWS terrain warning on a night visual approach to SJC.