EMB ERJ 190/195 ER/LR
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 14000
Confusion
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Procedure
Cleared for the visual approach; within 10 DME ILIP I descended from our last assigned altitude (2000 ft) to glide slope intercept altitude at NIMOY (1500 feet). A couple of miles from FAF; ATC sent an altitude alert which we acknowledged. We had towers to the east of the course inbound in sight as weather was CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited) and we had the terrain feature on. After being cleared for the visual approach from a vector; I judged prudent to be established at glideslope intercept altitude and configured as we were within 10 NM from the airport and prevailing weather conditions were VFR.I would intercept the course inbound of the published instrument approach and adhere to the published flight path provided by the electronic glideslope to prevent an altitude/ terrain alert by ATC. As a rule of thumb; keeping a 3:1 glide path would have also prevented the altitude alert call by ATC.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
ERJ-190 flight crew reported receiving a low altitude alert while on a visual approach and descending below the glideslope.