Plain English Meaning
Smaller airports near big, busy airports. They take in general aviation traffic so the main airport can focus on airline flights, and they give private and small-aircraft pilots an easier place to operate.
Full Definition
A category of general aviation airports designated by the FAA to relieve congestion at busy commercial service airports and to provide improved general aviation access to the surrounding community. Reliever airports may be publicly or privately owned.
Context Anchor
Seen when studying airport categories and how airports in a busy city or region are grouped by their role.
Derivation
From 'relieve' — to ease a burden. These airports relieve pressure on overloaded commercial airports by absorbing the smaller traffic that would otherwise crowd the same runways and airspace.
Why Pilots Care
General aviation pilots gain access to less congested facilities with shorter times and simpler .