Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors; Company Policy
During approach into JAC to runway 19; under VMC conditions; cleared for the visual approach; Captain flew left of course to comply with the noise abatement of the Moose Lodge. As were just prior to abeam the lodge we got the GPWS warning for terrain. I believe the primary reason was a slightly closer path to the terrain to the left and slightly low. At no time were we in jeopardy of hitting the terrain in the VMC conditions and airport in sight. Continued approach with a right turn abeam the lodge to align with the runway.I truly believe there is so much emphasis on avoiding the Moose Lodge that it causes pilots to take a path that places them closer than necessary to the terrain to the east of the Lodge. There is no stipulation on how far is far enough. We have no idea what the noise levels are at what distance/altitude. Also there is such a fear factor in all the chart info and company airport data that on a clear; dry-runway-condition day pilots tend to make a shallower approach path to the runway. I guess the thinking is that we must land by the PAPI so if I am lower it will help; instead of making a normal approach and only 'dipping' below the glide path in the last 500 ft or so. Having flown into JAC numerous times in the last 3 months I have learned that way too much fear is imparted when the runway is dry and winds are favorable.
Air carrier First Officer reported ambiguous company noise abatement procedures into Jackson Hole airport require flying off course during approach to comply.