Which item does NOT allow you to descend below minimums on an approach?

In the context of instrument approaches, descending below minimums is strictly regulated to ensure safety. In this scenario, the control tower is not an item that would permit a pilot to descend below the established minimums on an approach.

The approach minimums are predetermined altitudes or visual references that indicate the lowest altitude at which a safe landing can be attempted. The presence of a control tower does not provide any additional authority or information that would justify descending below these minimums.

Conversely, taxiway lights and runway lights, as well as taxiway markings, serve specific purposes that can enhance the pilot's situational awareness and might contribute to visual references necessary for decision-making during an approach. For instance, illuminated runway edge lights or threshold lights may assist in confirming the runway's location and assist in deciding to continue descent, assuming that the minimums have been met. However, these elements do not change the regulatory requirement that governs minimum descent altitudes; only specific conditions or visual references defined in the approach procedure can allow for descent below minimums.