What is the primary role of the Federal Air Marshal Service?

The primary role of the Federal Air Marshal Service is to provide armed security on flights. This service is crucial for ensuring the safety of passengers and crew during air travel by preventing and responding to potential threats, such as terrorism and hijacking situations. Federal Air Marshals are trained professionals who operate undercover on commercial flights, armed with the authority to take necessary actions to safeguard the aircraft and those on board. Their presence serves as a deterrent to potential criminals and enhances the overall security of air travel.

The other options, while related to security in an airport context, do not accurately reflect the core mission of the Federal Air Marshal Service. Providing training for airport security personnel and maintaining airport security equipment pertain to ground operations and the overall security infrastructure in airports. Managing airport crowd control is also a vital function but focuses more on controlling the flow of people at airports rather than securing flights in the air.