B757-200
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
This was IOE for 1st time Captain upgrade. In day VFR conditions; we accepted a visual approach. Student set himself on a 4 NM downwind; then set 2100 feet in the altitude window. This was the FAF altitude; which is just under a 4 NM final. Unfamiliar with the field; the student elected to take a slightly longer final. Just prior to turning base at about 8 NMs from the field; the Tower Controller stated; 'Low altitude alert. The MSA in that quadrant is 2500 feet. Climb to 2500 feet.' The student then selected 2500 feet in the altitude window; and climbed in V/S from 2100 feet to 2500 feet. [The] rest of the approach was uneventful.[The cause was] unfamiliarity with the field on the Student Captain's part; and perhaps lack of information on the company pages or reference pages of Jeppesen; because it is fairly common for pilots to descend to the FAF altitude on a visual approach if inside of the IF or IAF.
After being cleared for a visual approach; the PF (Pilot Flying) descended to the FAF altitude for the corresponding RNAV approach while on a downwind leg. Prior to turning base; Tower called with a low altitude alert indicating that 2100 feet was below the sector altitude we had just entered. We immediately climbed to 2500 feet; which was the sector safe altitude according to Tower. We completed the rest of the approach and landing without incident. Pilot descended to FAF altitude but then flew past the FAF on downwind a little too far before turning base; entered a sector where a tower drove up the min safe altitude higher than FAF altitude but pilot didn't realize the safe altitude had increased until prompted by Control Tower. If descending to FAF altitude on a visual approach; stay within a couple miles of the FAF; otherwise stay at least at 1500 feet AGL on downwind and paying close attention to radio altitude and charted terrain to ensure 1500 feet AGL on downwind.
B757-200 flight crew reported receiving a low altitude alert from the Tower during a visual approach.