Nothing particular unusual about it, there are many airports with similar "hills" in immediate runway vicinity (for example RNO).
I'm only talking about the last mile of the approach. As I mentioned earlier regarding Aspen and Telluride, and now Reno, yes terrain is a factor but not close to the runway (within 1nm) as is the case with runway 18 at BHM. From what I can see at RNO, with runways that have published instrument approaches, the terrain rises about 40 feet above the threshold elevation within a mile, and all these runways have significantly displaced thresholds.
The important point is that minimum vis for this approach is 1 mile so they would clearly see all the obstacles well in advance.
At night, when it's dark ?
Reports from pilots in this very thread appear to indicate it is not just another approach.
skysign: The last 1/2 to 1 mile you litteraly buze the hill all the ways down to the RWY. It is like doing a low flyby over a downhill slope to the rwy. Landing on 18, is like landing at the bottom of a bowl. And yes it is an " interesting approach " day or night !!!!!
It will be interesting to see what sort of briefing notes UPS provides their crews operating into this airport on runway 18 at night ? And whether or not the approach even meets certification requirements for night operations with large turbojet aircraft ?