Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 5600
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Airspace Structure
During the approach into CHO RWY 03 ATC cleared us to 3000 ft. Once abeam the airport ATC cleared us for the visual and we turned towards the FAP and started the descent to 2600 ft which was the FAP ALT. Pattern alt was 2200 ft. We could not see any terrain that would cause an issue to our approach and we started down to 2600 ft. Between 2700 and 2800 ft we got an EGPWS terrain terrain pull up. We disconnected the auto pilot and set max thrust and started a climb. We notified ATC and once we were sure we were clear the terrain we continued back to the approach course at a higher altitude and landed with no further incident. ATC is bringing us down to 3000 ft and is bringing us too close to a ridge that is 1800 ft high. With no wind correction it is easy to drift over the ridge and not realize it. ATC is then clearing us for a visual approach from a wide left downwind and tower is also requesting to keep the pattern tight. With it being dark out we could not see any terrain that would be a factor so we accepted it not knowing we were directly over the ridge. ATC should not be clearing visual approaches from the east or bringing us down that low for a vectoring altitude. Even if we were to have stayed at 3000 ft; the MSA was 4900 ft; this would have caused a TOO LOW GEAR warning due to the proximity of the ridge. ATC should either keep us higher and bring us out away from the ridge before clearing us for a visual or the company needs to send out alerts to the crews about this airport since it is surrounded by terrain close to the airport.
Air Carrier Captain reported a terrain warning on a night visual approach to CHO runway 03.