What qualifies an airport to be classified as a "Primary Service" airport under FAA guidelines?

• A. 10,000 annual passenger enplanements
• B. 5,000 annual aircraft operations
• C. 15,000 annual flight arrivals
• D. 7,500 annual passenger enplanements

Answer: (A)

A "Primary Service" airport, as classified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is determined based on specific passenger traffic metrics. The correct criterion for such classification is that an airport must have at least 10,000 annual passenger enplanements. This figure is significant because it marks the threshold for an airport to be deemed essential for providing air transportation services to the public on a larger scale.

By meeting this passenger enplanement requirement, an airport demonstrates a certain level of operational activity and connectivity that aligns with federal guidelines for aviation support and funding. The classification as a "Primary Service" airport can affect federal funding eligibility, operational priorities, and the level of services offered at the airport, making it crucial for airport management to understand this classification.

Other choices refer to different metrics that do not meet the FAA's established criteria for this specific classification. While they might reflect activity levels at an airport, they do not qualify it as a "Primary Service" airport according to the FAA’s definitions.