Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
During our approach briefing; First Officer pointed out that there was an antennae approximately nine miles to the southwest of AVL that is 5;049 feet tall and that Approach Control would leave us high until we were clear of that. While approaching the airport; we were given a descent from 6;000 feet to 5;100 feet. It was during this descent that we received our 'Terrain' GPWS caution alert. We were on vectors at this time due to the First Officer requesting vectors for our RNAV 35 approach. This was done because Center had left us at a high altitude until about 15 miles from AVL and we needed time to descend. Our position at the time of the GPWS caution was approximately 2.5 miles to the southwest of the fix ZICZU. Immediately upon receiving the caution; we notified Approach Control; and added that we were now climbing to 6;000 feet. I then reminded the First Officer that there was a note on our Jeppesen REF plates that says that high rates of descent could result in GPWS alerts (our descent rate was approximately 1;500 FPM). The cautions did not stop until we were at 6;000. Approach Control replied that the Minimum Safe Altitude in that region was 5;100 feet and that we were fine. Upon reaching 6;000; we informed Approach Control that we had AVL in sight. We were cleared for the visual and turned towards the final approach course. Once we were established; we descended down to 4;200 feet for the fix ZICZU and continued the approach. We received no further GPWS alerts.We complied with the GPWS caution directive to 'Pull Up' that we received during our climb to 6;000 feet. Perhaps the northwesterly winds had blown us close enough to the fix AVEBE which is about 13 miles to the southwest of AVL that the terrain database triggered the GPWS alerts. The Minimum Safe Altitude in this region is 6;200 feet. In the future; I could not descend as fast as 1;500 FPM and can be more proactive at requesting a lower altitude from Center well before entering the terminal area.
Air carrier Captain reported a GPWS event during approach to AVL airport requiring a pull up maneuver.