Carlos Gasca

Background:

I started in 2005 as a quality inspector, where I inspected F100 combustors, air seals, and other components at Pratt and Whitney®. In 2006, a section of the shop started repairing gas turbine parts, and I eventually joined that team. Ultimately, gas turbine repairs took over the whole shop, and it became a full-scale gas turbine parts repairs facility. In 2013, we were acquired by PW Power Systems, and in 2018, we were acquired by MD&A. Throughout my career, I have inspected all gas turbine part components we repair. Additionally, I have run the CMM (Coordinate-Measuring Machine), airflow, and moment weight machines, and performed dimensional inspections.

What do you do here at MD&A? What aspect do you enjoy most about your role at MD&A?

I am the Static Parts Supervisor, and I manage all non-rotating parts. I follow parts from strip and inspect, through the repair process, until they finally ship back to our customers. I manage the cost of the jobs, ensure we meet our customers’ deadlines, and provide them with excellent quality. We repair and extend the life of parts that the OEM may consider scrap, offering our customers a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new parts without compromising on quality.

 What is the most interesting job/ challenge you have come across in the shop?

The most interesting part of my job is working with our impressive engineering team and developing new ways to repair parts that are more efficient and cost-effective.

What type of repairs mostly happen for gas turbine nozzles to extend their service life?

A good example is the application of braze preform technology on the T/E of V94.3A2 second stage nozzles. This corrects a wall thickness issue that previously resulted in scrapping out parts after the first repair. By saving the parts, we help extend their service life, allowing for potential additional repairs and offering a cost-effective alternative to buying new OEM parts.

Why did you choose to work for MD&A and why have you continued to choose to work at MD&A? How would you describe our company culture?

I have worked at MD&A since about a year after I graduated from Airframe and Powerplant Aviation School, pretty much my whole career. MD&A has been an amazing company to work for, and we have an exceptional team here at the MD&A San Antonio Service Center. I am grateful to work for a company that promotes from within and has allowed me to grow with the business.

What is your personal motto?

Opportunities don’t happen; you create them!