Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210; Flight Crew Total 17550; Flight Crew Type 10250
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Airport
During approach we were cleared direct to CALLS waypoint coming from the northwest and assigned clearance down to 6;000 FT MSL. After leveling off at 6;000 FT MSL we called the field in sight and were cleared for a visual approach to Runway 11L. The First Officer was flying and he elected to continue to use LNAV to CALLS for the visual approach. A few miles before CALLS the First Officer put 5;000 FT MSL in the mode control panel without verbalizing it and began a gradual descent. I could see the peak which looked okay as it was off center and clear of our flight path. I began looking for the antenna (obstacle). I acquired the peak and the antenna which was off center and clear of our flight path as well. I asked the First Officer if he had the obstacle and peak in sight too. He replied he did. I said this might be a good one to just follow the glide slope from 6;000 FT MSL on. He said he didn't want to get too high on this approach since he had been caught high before. We received a 'Caution Obstacle' EGPWS aural alert. We verbalized with each other to verify that we both had the terrain and obstacles in sight and verified our flight path was okay while both staying ready to make an evasive maneuver. We continued for a normal landing. I believe it's best to join the localizer at LIPTE when cleared the visual and follow the altitudes on the ILS 11L. While being in day VMC conditions we also had the sun shining extremely bright straight in our faces which may have contributed to some visual perception changes. It was so bright that it made it tough to transition back and forth from the windows to the panel. An instrument approach might have been a good option. As a side note; an added backup to visual approach safety for arrivals from the northwest to Runway 11L from an ATC standpoint might be to have Approach Control issue something like 'Cleared direct WASON; cross WASON at or above 5;500 FT then cleared visual approach Runway 11L.' WASON being the first fix inside both the highest terrain and obstacle on the ILS 11L.
Air Carrier Captain experiences an EGPWS 'Caution Obstacle' alert during day visual approach to Runway 11L at TUS. The antenna that produced the alert was in sight and the approach is continued to landing.