Aeronautical Terms beginning with M

Median Volume Diameter (MVD)

The diameter such that half the liquid water in a region of cloud is contained in drops of a smaller diameter, and half in drops of a larger diameter.

Mixed Ice.

Simultaneous appearance of rime and clear ice or an ice formation that has the characteristics of both rime and clear ice.

Moderate Icing

The rate of ice accumulation requires frequent cycling of manual deicing systems1 to minimize ice accretions on the airframe. The rate of accumulation is such that anything more than a short encounter is potentially hazardous. A representative accretion rate for reference purposes is 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) per hour4 on the outer wing.5