A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
Captain Pilot monitoring (PM); First Officer (FO) Pilot Flying (PF). cleared for a visual approach to 28L in day VMC and an altitude of 3;000'; selected direct to the FAF and descended to 2400' on a left base. ATC advised they had received an altitude alert; I noted we had passed a hill and the terrain was sloping downward toward the airport. We maintained our altitude until intercepting the glide path and completed a stabilized approach and landing.Going direct to the FAF from a left base and descending too soon.Instead of going direct the FAF; should intercept on the approach course some distance back and cross at the instrument crossing altitude.
A319 Captain reported receiving a low altitude alert from ATC on a day visual approach to PIT.