Date: 201601
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: SDL.Airport, AZ
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 20
Light: Night
Aircraft: Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Corporate
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Final Approach
Airspace: Class E P50
ATC / advisory: TRACON P50
Reporter organization: Corporate
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I am writing this report as follow up to a discussion we have been having within our department. We did not do anything where I questioned as to whether we were in violation. We are very familiar with the area and the arrivals etc. As we neared the airport after flying the DSERT2 arrival we called the airport in sight and were cleared for a visual approach. At this point we were approximately 10 miles north of the airport. Because the DSERT arrival brings you inbound to SDL airport from the north; there is considerable high terrain that must be accounted for if descent is made while tracking the last leg of the arrival. Once we are cleared for the visual we always move over to the west to keep ourselves over city lights and a well-known north/south road which keeps us well clear of terrain. With this in mind; I sidestepped over to the west to enter a modified right base to final. As I established us over the road ATC came up and asked us to fly east of Pinnacle Peak; which is well east of us and right in line with all the high terrain. Since it was dusk and we could see the ground I accepted this and turned nearly 90 degrees to the east to fly past Pinnacle Peak on the east side. As we turned east the controller said 'in case you are not familiar; the preferred procedure is to fly east of Pinnacle Peak for a straight in approach to runway 3.'This is a bad scenario; as it brings aircraft over high terrain while they also are having to descend rapidly to get down in time. Also; this is bringing aircraft over terrain where they must descend; but they are well beyond the 4 mile maximum distance where the PAPI at SDL will assure terrain separation. Also; aircraft are not aligned with the PAPI which has a limit of 10 degrees left or right even when the aircraft is within 4 miles. I am very familiar with the terrain. I see aircraft at night all the time flying straight in approaches over all that terrain. Are they aware of how much terrain is below them? An aircraft almost hit the hills doing this into SDL a number of years back. My suggestion would be to alert controllers to this issue of assuming a straight in will work at night and also consider if something can be done to change the arrival again. This arrival has been in place for a year or two. The old one brought us in further to the West and away from terrain.




Synopsis: Air carrier Captain reported they were on the DSERT2 Arrival to SDL then cleared for a visual approach. Reporter stated ATC then asked them to fly '...east of Pinnacle Peak...' which put them over an area of high terrain.