When flying to an airfield with published minimums, what must be verified before commencing an approach?

Before commencing an approach to an airfield with published minimums, it is crucial to verify the weather conditions at the airfield. This is because the established minimums represent the lowest visibility and ceiling conditions in which a pilot can safely execute an approach and land. If the current weather conditions do not meet or exceed these minimums, it may not be safe to continue the approach, and the pilot would need to consider alternative plans, such as diverting to another airport or holding until conditions improve.

Ensuring the weather conditions are suitable is essential for maintaining safety and adherence to regulations. The inability to meet the minimums could lead to a missed approach or worse, an accident.

While considerations regarding the aircraft model, flight route, and fuel levels are important to overall flight planning and safety, they do not directly influence the decision to commence an approach on the basis of published minimums. The primary concern in this context is the weather at the intended airfield.