Your TCAS is your life.
In my humble opinion.
The problems are latent in the system.
We discussed this before see Barcelona ATC/Ground collision
In Spain the controllers are not going to hold your hand.
You have to be pro active and adapt to their style. They will not change completely, so deal with it.
They will get you when you least expect it.
Well said the problem is consistancy.
There are excellent controllers and others who have no business being there in Spain.
The sub standard controllers should be removed.
In Barcelona or Madrid you have to do your own speed reductions for traffic separation. Tell the controllers your speed change of course.
If you blindly follow the controllers as in Amsterdam, you will be doing many go arounds in Spain and hitting wake turbulence.
Your game has to be better in Spain.
As a pilot turn up your Situational Awareness a level. Expect the worst and hope for the best.
A number of the Spanish ATC do not have the capacity to do the job when things get hot.
This is a Spanish ATC training/standards issue.
It is not only language it involves situational awareness, the natural ability to make quick mental calculations and give vectors.
I've spoken to Spanish guys about the hiring and selection process perhaps there is too much of an emphasis on exams and not what a person can do on the radar screen ?
Spanish culture is part of the problem and solution.
Spanish pride does get in the way sometimes. We all make mistakes so`let us admit them.
There is a problem in the system so admit it ? The safety reports back this up.
For the Spanish ATC guys Please enlighten us and explain if we are missing something here. I am here to learn.