the Aviation Dictionary

microbioloeical corrosion - middle comDass locator
Microbes form a water-entrapping scum on the bottom
of jet aircraft fuel tanks.
microbiological corrosion - The deterioration of
materials caused directly or indirectly by bacteria,
algae, molds, or fungi, either alone or in combination.
Microbiological corrosion is significant to aviation
when linked to corrosion of airframe components,
particularly in fuel tanks and related systems.
microburst - A small downburst with outbursts of
damaging winds extending 2.5 miles or less. In spite of
its small horizontal scale, an intense microburst could
induce wind speeds as high as 150 knots.
microcircuit - An extremely small electronic
component that has a large number of circuit elements
combined into a single unit.
microelectronics - The branch of electronics that deals
with integrated circuits and other small electronic
devices.
micro-microfarad - A unit of capacitance equal to one
millionth of a millionth of a farad. Also referred to as
picofarad.
micron - 1. One millionth (0.000001) of a meter, or one
thousandth (0.001) of a millimeter (0.000001 meter or
1 x lo6 meter). Also referred to as a micrometer. 2. The
pressure measurement in a column of mercury: One
micron of pressure is equal to 0.001 millimeter of
mercury (1 x lo6 meter of mercury) at O°C. 3. One
micron is normally used to denote the effectiveness of
a filter.
micronic filter - A disposable element filter used in
hydraulic or pneumatic systems that filters particles as
small as one micron.
microorganism - An organism of microscopic size,
normally bacteria or fungus.
microphone - A device for converting sound waves to
electric signals.
micro-en route automated radar tracking system (M- microprocessor - A small central processing unit
EARTS) - An automated radar and radar beacon (CPU) for a microcomputer.
tracking system capable of employing both short-range
(ASR) and long-range (ARSR) radars. This
microscale - Spatial scales of I n.m. or less.
microcomputer driven system provides improved microscope - An optical instrument used to magnify
tracking, continuous data recording, and use of full extremely small objects so they can be seen by the
digital radar displays.
human eye.
microfarad (pF ) - One millionth (0.000001) of a farad.
microfiche - Sheets of film that store reduced-size
printed and graphic information. One sheet of
microfiche can stores between 24 and 288 individual
frames or pages of material on a single 4" x 6" sheet of
photographic film. The microfiche film is read on a
reader that enlarges the image and can often make a
printed copy of the desired page(s), if needed.
microfilm - Reproduction of printed material on 35 mm
or 16 mm photographic film; used to store vast
quantities of written material in a small space. The
microfilm is read on a reader that enlarges the image
and can make a full size printed copy of the desired
page(s), if needed.
microinch - One millionth (0.000001) of an inch.
micrometer - One millionth (0.000001) of a meter. A
micrometer is also referred to as a micron.
micrometer caliper - A precision measuring device
having a single movable jaw, advanced by a screw.
One revolution of the screw advances the jaw 0.025".
micrometer setting torque wrench - A hand-operated
torque wrench in which a preset torque is adjusted with
a micrometer-type scale. When torque is reached, the
handle of the wrench breaks over, indicating the torque
to the operator.
Aircraft Technical Book Company
P.O. Box 270
Tabernash, CO 80478
http:llwww.ACTechbooks.com
microsecond - One millionth (0.000001) of a second
microshaver - An adjustable metal-cutting tool used for
shaving the heads of countersunk rivets so they are
flush with the surface.
microshaving - A process in sheet metalwork in which
the head of the countersunk rivet is shaved to absolute
smoothness with the surface of the skin.
microswitch - An electrical switch used to open or
close a circuit with an extremely small movement of
the actuator.
microwave landing system - A precision instrument
approach system operating in the microwave spectrum
that normally consists of the following components:
a. Azimuth Station.
b. Elevation Station.
c. Precision Distance Measuring Equipment.
microwaves - Electromagnetic radiation with a
wavelength between infrared and short-wave radio
wavelengths (frequency higher than 1 gigahertz and a
wavelength shorter than 30 centimeters).
mid RVR - The RVR (runway visual range ) readout
values obtained from RVR equipment located midfield
of the runway.
middle compass locator - A low power, low or medium
frequency (LNF) radio beacon installed at the site of
the middle marker of an instrument landing system
(ILS).