What is the primary role of the surge tanks in the fuel system?

The primary role of surge tanks in the fuel system is to prevent fuel starvation during maneuvers. During flight, especially in situations involving rapid changes in attitude or load factors, fuel may shift within the fuel tanks due to inertia. Surge tanks are designed to accommodate these fuel movements, ensuring that there is always an adequate supply of fuel available for the engines, even during extreme maneuvers. This helps maintain fuel flow and pressure to the engines, thereby preventing any interruptions that could affect performance or safety.

In this context, while storing excess fuel for maintenance, compensating for fuel expansion, and balancing fuel distribution may be relevant to fuel management, they do not capture the critical function of surge tanks during dynamic flight conditions. The surge tanks' ability to maintain an uninterrupted flow of fuel directly addresses the need for reliability in engine operation throughout various flight scenarios.