What must be confirmed before clearing for a visual approach?

Before clearing an aircraft for a visual approach, it is essential to confirm the weather conditions. The reason for this is that a visual approach requires the pilot to have the ability to see the airport and the surrounding area to navigate safely. If weather conditions do not meet the necessary visual flight rules (VFR), such as visibility being too low or clouds being too low, then the approach cannot be safely executed.

In this context, while other factors like pilot certification level, air traffic congestion, and aircraft type may be relevant to overall operations, they do not directly affect the ability to execute a visual approach as significantly as weather conditions do. The primary concern is ensuring that pilots can visually locate the airport and maintain safe separation from other traffic during the approach. Therefore, confirming the weather is critical before allowing a visual approach to proceed safely.