B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 1; Flight Crew Total 6500; Flight Crew Type 300
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Procedure; Human Factors
ATC vectors kept us high (4;200 MSL) until approximately 7 miles from the runway. We were cleared to 2;000 MSL; and then cleared for a visual approach. Upon descent from 2;000 MSL; ATC advised that he had a low altitude alert. We climbed slightly and continued the approach. Upon turning final at about a two mile final; we were on the visual glide path as shown by the P-VASIs. No EGPWS alerts were encountered; terrain was not a factor. In our opinion; we were intercepting a normal descent profile for landing after having been kept high until very close to the runway.
[We were] cleared visual approach. [We] descended to remain clear of clouds. Approach gave callout 'too low terrain' over radio. Acknowledged the call and clarified cleared for the visual approach. They confirmed clearance and a few moments later again the same callout. We again told them we are VMC and continued our approach. The call confused the aircrew at what ATC wanted the crew to do. Both myself and the pilot flying did not understand what ATC wanted us to do. The landing was accomplished uneventfully.
A B777 flight crew was advised of a low altitude alert by ATC on approach; causing some confusion in the cockpit.