What is a primary purpose of issuing an AIRMET?

The primary purpose of issuing an AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information) is to provide warnings of in-flight weather hazards. AIRMETs are specifically designed to alert pilots to conditions that may significantly impact flight safety, such as turbulence, icing, and visibility issues that are not severe enough to warrant a SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information). By communicating these potential hazards, AIRMETs play a crucial role in helping pilots make informed decisions about their routes and altitude, ultimately enhancing safety during flight operations.

The other options touch on aspects of flight safety and communication, but they do not encapsulate the main purpose of an AIRMET as effectively. While enhancing flight safety during storms is certainly an important consideration, AIRMETs cover a broader range of weather hazards beyond just storms. Informing pilots of necessary deviations is a part of overall flight operations but is not the direct intent of an AIRMET. Minimizing in-flight advisory criteria misrepresents the function of AIRMETs, which is to provide timely and critical information rather than to reduce the criteria for what pilots should be aware of concerning weather conditions.