the Aviation Dictionary

aluminum oxide. amvere-hour cauacitv
capacitors must be used on direct current only. If
subjected to alternating current they will heat and
possibly explode.
aluminum oxide - A compound of aluminum and
oxygen (A120,). It is extremely hard and is used as an
abrasive.
aluminum paste - Extremely small flakes of aluminum
metal suspended in a substance to make a paste.
Aluminum paste is mixed with clear dope to make
aluminum-pigmented dope. Aluminum dope is applied
over clear dope on aircraft fabric to prevent ultraviolet
rays of the sun from damaging the clear dope and
fabric underneath.
aluminum welding - The welding of aluminum and
aluminum alloys used in aircraft construction using
equipment and techniques acceptable to the Federal
Aviation Administration.
aluminum wool - Shavings of aluminum metal that are
formed into a pad. Aluminum wool can be used to
remove corrosion products from aluminum alloy parts
and also to smooth out minor scratches from the
surface of aluminum sheets or tubing.
aluminum-pigmented dope - Clear aircraft dope in
which extremely tiny flakes of aluminum metal are
suspended. When sprayed on aircraft fabric, the flakes
leaf out to form an opaque covering, protecting the
fabric and clear dope from the harmful effects of the
sun's ultraviolet rays.
American Standards - Dimensional standards for
fasteners that are issued by the American Standard
Association.
American Wire Gauge (AWG) -The standard used for
measuring the diameter of round wires and the
thickness of non-ferrous metal sheets. Also referred to
as the Brown and Sharpe gauge.
AMM (aircraft maintenance manual) A manual
developed by the aircraft manufacturer that includes
information prepared for the AMT or technician who
performs work on units, components, and systems
while they are installed on the airplane. It is normally
supplied by the manufacturer and approved by the
FAA as part of the original process of certification. It
will contain the required instructions for continued
airworthiness that must accompany each aircraft when
it leaves the factory. An Aircraft Maintenance Manual
can also be a manual developed by a Part 125 operator
as part of their specific operating manual. As such the
FAA does not specifically approve the manual. Also
referred to as an MMM or Manufacturers Maintenance
Manual.
ammeter - An electrical measuring instrument used to
measure electron flow in amperes. Ammeters that
measure very small rates of flow are called
milliammeters (thousandths of an ampere) or
microammeters (millionths of an ampere).
ammeter shunt - A low-resistance resistor installed in
uarallel with an ammeter to allow the meter to read a
amalgam - A mixture of different elements. Often used flow of current that exceeds the current limit of the
to indicate a mixture of mercury with some other instrument. The ammeter, acting as a millivoltmeter,
metal.
measures the voltage - drop across the shunt, and
indicates, on a scale, the amount of current flowing
amalgamate -To combine, join, or mix ingredients.
through the circuit.
amber - A hard, yellowish, translucent, fossilized tree
ammonia - An invisible gas made up of one atom of
resin. Often used in jewelry.
nitrogen and three atoms of hydrogen (NH3). Ammonia
- -
ambient -The condition of the atmosphere as it exists at becomes a liquid at -28OF, and it freezes at -107OF.
the time of observation.
Ammonia is used to case-harden steel by a process
called nitriding.
ambient air - See ambient.
ambient pressure - The pressure of the air that
amorphous -Without shape.
surrounds an object.
ampere (A)- A measure of electron flow. One ampere
is equal to a flow of one coulomb (6.28 billion billion
ambient temperature - The temperature of the air that
electrons) past a point in one second. One ampere is the
surrounds an object.
amount of current that can be forced through - one ohm
ambiguity - Something that does not have a clear of resistance by a pressure of one volt.
meaning.
ampere turn - A measure of magnetomotive force
American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM)- A (mmf) of an electromagnet. It is the force produced
not-for-profit organization that provides a global forum when one ampere of current flows through one turn of
for the development and publication of voluntary wire in a coil. One ampere turn is equal to 1.26
consensus standards for materials, products, systems, gilberts.
and services. Many standards in tdp aircraft industry
ampere-hour - A measure or rating of a
are ASTM standards.
battery that indicates the capacity of electrical energy
the battery can supply. One ampere-hour is the
of the current flow in amperes, multiplied by the length
Aircraft Technical Book Company
P.O. Box 270
Tabernash, CO 80478
http://w.ACTechbooks.com