This thread has grown to be 9 pages long because there is a genuine concern among the pilot community that the increase in high density traffic together with poor ATC standards in Spain may bring unacceptable risks. It is not about personal preferences, collective bashings, or national or cultural comparisons. It is about safety.
And yet some posters pretend that it’s all in our heads, that we are biased against Spain and that Spanish ATC is as good as any. Well, to put things in perspective let me use a few points to illustrate:
Where in Europe when checking in on a new freq you regularly have to call two, or three or more times to get a response? All over Spain.
Where in Europe do you have to constantly remind ATC of approaching altitude to avoid unnecessary and inefficient level-offs? Spain.
Where does ATC issue speed reductions and then forget about it, prompting the crew to further adjust the speed on their own? Madrid and Barcelona.
Where does ATC exhibit a total lack of understanding of speed control and jet performance? Spain.
Where are the most inane (and confusing) taxi clearances issued? MAD, BCN, CDG.
Where are you often vectored to intercept the LOC at a 60-70º angle (and above GS)? BCN rwy 07.
Where are you almost guaranteed of a go around if you blindly adhere to ATC speeds? BCN and MAD.
Where are you vectored over high ground, told to intercept the LOC above the GS and at the same time instructed a speed reduction? MAD rwy 18.
Where is there some confusion as to being cleared to the Left or Right runway during simultaneous parallel approaches? MAD rwy 33 or 18.
Where is the most impossibly complex airspace? MAD (look at their missed approach procedures).
Which airports require more Jeppesen plates than any other to do the same job? MAD and BCN.
Where have I been cleared for an ILS, Glide Slope only, No Localizer approach? Malaga.
Where do most controllers have but a very basic knowledge of the English language, making other than bread and butter communications difficult? All over Spain (and possibly other places).
Where is non standard, unprofessional phraseology often used (e.g. issuing a clearance without mentioning the aircraft call sign)? BCN and MAD.
Where is the simultaneous use of two different languages lead to a dangerous lack of situational awareness? Spain, France and Russia.
What is my personal count of TCAS RAs? USA: 2; Spain:3; Rest of the world put together: Zero