Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Type 13000
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
We were being vectored for a visual approach to BHM Runway 6 from the southeast. We had briefed the visual approach and also made reference to a safety alert for the Runway 6 obstacle threat. This threat is a 2;049 feet MSL Tower just southeast of MCDEN; the FAF for the ILS Runway 6. ATC cleared us direct MCDEN and down to 3;000 feet. This clearance would have put our flight path directly over the obstacle. One would need to cross the tower at least at 3;000 feet; which is a setup for a high approach. Secondly; a crew; who perhaps did not notice the Safety Alert Page would likely get cleared for the visual; descend further and get an EGPWS warning. I realize that this is not intentional on the part of ATC; but by clearing aircraft from the south directly to MCDEN; they are setting crews up for a potential problem; particularly if a crew is busy and/or task saturated. We told ATC about the issue with the routing over the tower and requested direct CEMPO instead. They issued the revised clearance and subsequently cleared us for the visual approach to Runway 6. I believe that ATC should change their policy of clearing aircraft direct to MCDEN; instead clearing them to CEMPO to avoid this hazardous obstacle issue.
Air carrier Captain reported receiving a vector to final for a visual approach to BHM from ATC that created a conflict with a published ground obstacle.