What is the primary purpose of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)?

The primary purpose of the FAA is to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the United States. This encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including establishing safety standards for aircraft, pilots, and air traffic procedures, ensuring compliance with aviation laws, and managing air traffic control systems. By fulfilling this role, the FAA aims to maintain the highest levels of safety, security, and efficiency in U.S. air travel.

The FAA's regulatory authority extends to both the commercial aviation sector and general aviation, covering everything from aircraft manufacturing to pilot certification and airport operations. This comprehensive oversight is crucial for ensuring that aviation activities are conducted safely and in accordance with federal regulations, thus protecting public safety.

While training pilots and ground crew is a vital component of aviation safety, the FAA does not primarily serve a training function—it focuses on regulation and oversight instead. The development of aviation technology is an important field but is generally undertaken by private companies and research institutions rather than being the core function of the FAA. Additionally, managing commercial airline routes falls under the broader umbrella of its regulatory responsibilities, but it is not the sole focus of the agency. The primary emphasis remains on the regulation and oversight of all civil aviation activities, making option B the most accurate choice.