What is one of the duties of the FAA in relation to airport safety?

One of the primary duties of the FAA regarding airport safety is to investigate all surface incidents. This responsibility ensures that any accidents or near misses on airport surfaces are thoroughly examined to identify causes, contributing factors, and potential safety improvements. Investigating these incidents is crucial for enhancing the overall safety of airport operations, allowing for better policies, procedures, and training to prevent future occurrences. By focusing on all surface incidents, the FAA helps maintain high safety standards in aviation operations, which includes not just takeoff and landing phases but also ground movements where collisions or accidents can occur.

The other options do not represent the FAA's primary responsibility concerning airport safety. Monitoring only commercial flights reflects a limited scope, as safety oversight encompasses all flight operations, including general aviation. Implementing taxiway improvements can be a part of the FAA's role, but it is typically a result of findings and recommendations from investigations rather than a direct duty. Issuing weather updates is generally handled by the National Weather Service, although the FAA may relay important weather information relevant to aviation safety; it is not the FAA's primary focus concerning airport safety responsibilities.