What happens if a commercial or host nation procedure is not validated by a TERPS specialist?

The validity of a commercial or host nation procedure that has not been validated by a TERPS (Terminal Instrument Procedures) specialist is critical to ensuring safety in aviation operations. A procedure that lacks this validation cannot ensure standard obstruction clearance because it has not been thoroughly evaluated against established criteria that guarantee safe navigation and obstacle avoidance.

TERPS specialists assess and confirm that procedures adhere to necessary standards, thereby ensuring that all potential obstacles in the area are accounted for and that the aircraft can safely navigate the approach or departure paths without risking encounters with uncharted hazards. Without this validation, there could be unknown obstacles or clearances that are not appropriately managed, which poses a risk to flight safety.

In this context, the other options describe scenarios that do not align with proper aviation safety protocols. For instance, asserting that the procedure still guarantees safety disregards the very purpose of validation. Similarly, stating that flight crews can use it at their discretion undermines the structured and regulated environment necessary for commercial aviation. Lastly, claiming that it becomes invalid for all flights might be too extreme, as it may still be used under specific conditions where pilots understand the associated risks and are appropriately trained. However, the absence of validation unequivocally relates to the inability to ensure standard obstruction clearance.