Challenger CL600
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 5000
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
While approaching to land at AUS via radar vectors; Houston Approach cleared us for the visual 17L after informing them that we had the airport in sight and they informed us to contact Tower.After being cleared for the visual 17L and maintaining visual references; we descended from 2;000 feet to 1;600 feet for the glide slope intercept altitude at DDTOO as a backup reference for the Visual Approach to 17L.Visual separation and VFR conditions were maintained during the approach and Tower informed us about a Low Altitude Alert; we informed them that we had the field in sight and visual separation was being maintained during the final phase. After the alert; we informed Tower that we were climbing back to 2;000 feet and completed the approach. Tower informed us to contact them after landing to talk to them about the alert. Tower supervisor was contacted and informed us about the altitude alert and that everything was ok.
CL600 Captain reported Tower issued a low altitude alert on a visual approach to AUS.