Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 2100; Flight Crew Type 1350
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
After cleared visual approach for Runway 33 in PANC; we descended to 1;300 ft. to catch PAPI. Due to the strong left gusty crosswind; we were a bit off course and Tower gave us altitude alert to check our altitude. We corrected and maintained flight path until we saw PAPI (3 red 1 white) and continued inbound with a normal landing. Correct actions: due to our heavy weight and gusty wind; we tried to maintain lower altitude to catch PAPI. We drifted right of course where terrain side was located and the temperature was low in that day; so the Tower told us we were a little low. In this case; we should consider about maintaining higher altitude for the cold temperature and plan to turn to final earlier due to the strong left crosswind to eliminate the possible low altitude warning and terrain concerns.
Wide body air carrier F/O reported receiving a low altitude alert from ANC Tower on a visual approach to Runway 33.