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

The primary role of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to regulate all aspects of civil aviation. This includes the oversight and enforcement of aviation safety standards, the certification of pilots and aircraft, air traffic control, and ensuring compliance with federal aviation regulations. The FAA's responsibilities cover not only the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system but also the development and implementation of policies related to aviation operations.

While the FAA does engage with airport construction projects and can provide funding, it does not manage them directly, which distinguishes its primary focus from option C. Similarly, while the FAA plays a role in promoting safe recreational flying, that is more of a subset of its broader responsibilities rather than its main objective, thereby differentiating it from option D. The FAA does not supervise military aviation operations, making option A unrelated to its primary function. Hence, the correct answer reflects the comprehensive nature of the FAA's regulatory authority and its essential function in the civil aviation landscape.