Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Airport
We were being vectored by approach control on a southeast heading in VMC towards a 1865 ft tower located about 5 miles southwest of the BUR runway 33 threshold; which was the highest obstacle in the vicinity of the left hand visual traffic pattern for runway 33; when we were cleared for the visual approach to BUR runway 33. Both pilots noted the location of the tower and planned a left base leg so as to have both vertical and lateral separation from the tower. We started a descent from 4000 ft MSL down to 2000 ft MSL with the plan to remain at or above 2000 ft MSL until passing abeam the 1865 ft [tower] on a 4 mile base leg. As we made the left turn to the base leg in a descent to 2000 ft MSL; and with visual lateral separation from the 1865 ft tower; we received a GPWS alert. Since we were able to see the terrain and the tower; and we knew we had both vertical and lateral separation from the tower; we elected to continue the visual approach without performing a GPWS escape maneuver.Electing to accept a visual approach from a downwind leg with a tight 4 mile base leg to final knowing there was a 1865 ft MSL tower sitting on the ridge line about 5 miles south southwest of the runway 33 threshold.Runway 33 at BUR has no published instrument approaches. Instead of accepting a visual approach from downwind; it would have been better to have asked approach control to vector us to a visual straight in approach.
Air carrier Captain reported receiving a GPWS terrain warning on a visual approach to BUR Runway 33. Crew decided to ignore the warning since they had terrain and obstacle tower in sight.