What is the primary purpose of a stopway?

The primary purpose of a stopway is to serve as an area used to decelerate during an aborted take-off. This designated zone, which is generally located at the end of the runway, allows an aircraft that needs to stop during the take-off roll to do so safely without overrunning the runway. The stopway can absorb some of the aircraft's kinetic energy, assisting in bringing the aircraft to a complete halt if necessary.

In terms of its importance, the stopway is part of the overall safety measures put in place to ensure that aircraft can operate within the limits of available runway length, especially in scenarios where an engine failure or other emergencies occur shortly after takeoff. It can provide additional margin for error, facilitating a greater level of operational safety.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary function of a stopway. While the designated area for taxiing is important for ground operations, and areas to support weight during landing or serve as buffer zones play vital roles in runway safety and operations, they do not reflect the specific function of a stopway in aiding aircraft during an aborted take-off.