What is the minimum weather to commence an approach?

The minimum weather to commence an approach requires that the existing ceiling and visibility must meet the specific approach requirements outlined in the regulations or the approach procedure. This means that pilots need to ensure that both the vertical visibility (ceiling) and horizontal visibility standards for the specific approach they are intending to fly are satisfied before initiating the approach.

This approach ensures that pilots have adequate visual references for landing and can safely navigate to the runway. Each type of approach could have different minimum requirements depending on various conditions, making compliance with these specific criteria essential for safe operations.

In contrast, other options present either overly restrictive or vague requirements that do not fully address the operational standards necessary for initiating an approach. For instance, stating that visibility must be greater than 3 miles does not account for situation-specific criteria that might allow for a more nuanced approach under certain circumstances. Similarly, claiming that clear skies are required disregards low visibility approaches that are designed for specific weather conditions. The statement about needing VFR weather for any approach is inaccurate since some approaches can be executed under IFR conditions as long as the ceiling and visibility criteria are satisfied, which aligns with meeting the appropriate approach requirements.