Spanish ATC

[cortilla]

I've had many negative dealings with Spanish atc and I can only complement one station. The ladies and gentlemen at Reus are very good. They realise that there needs to be some flexibility in the system and they work their asses off to accommodate us. I've been there twice and both times tower has been excellent.

Anyways my main point has to be that finally someone from Spanish atc has admitted that this situation has nothing to do with safety but everything to do with throwing their toys out of the pram. Yes Avman your post spelled it out exactly. Your post spells out exactly that Spanish controllers are flexing their muscles to tell everyone who's boss and nowt else. Aren't you guys n gals just great And yes i know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

[samotnik]

It is not rare to get a CTOT=EOBT+2 mins.

Then someone failed to do his job to set up taxitime properly.

[Avman]

cortilla, I don't work in Spain, but I do have some empathy with their predicament (and I'm NOT talking about the financial aspect).

[zerotohero]

Flew into STN yesterday, departing we were told line up behind the landing traffic and be ready, then while lined up told cleared immediate take off landing traffic at 3miles, landing traffic told expect late landing clearance.

lol,, down in Madrid the first landing traffic would have taken up the hold because we were about to call for taxi!

They really are poor down there, The UK ATC show how its done with just one runway let alone 4!,,, O and the weather was poor too with popping out at about 150ft from minimums

[maggot738]

Zerotohero

Couldn,t agree with you more. I think it should be mandatory for all Spanish ATCO's to spend some time in a place like Gatwick to see how professional competant controllers keep everything on the rails with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of common courtesy.

And to Avman and the other controllers here, it is not my empolyer that denies requests for shortcuts or the requests for climbs to optimum cruise levels. Fuel burned equals more carbon in the atmosphere. Hey, but what do you guys care. You are making your point at the expence of everyone else and that's all that matters, right?

Maggot

[Avman]

You are making your point at the expence of everyone else and that's all that matters, right?

Well er yes, I think that's generally the case when you want to make a point and all else has failed miserably because of stubborn management intransigence. Of course they could go on strike and bring everything to a grinding stop. Would that suit you better?

Of course, fortunately for me (as a passenger), thanks to the professionals that they are, I never suffer delays and cancellations due to pilot or CC strikes!

[malagamike]

atc strike in spain

hi
does anyone know the latest about the planned atc strike in spain this month. ie are dates times etc confirmed yet?
cheers

[Wind Shear Ahead]

Hi Malagamike...

Spanish ATC Union (USCA) confirmed yestarday that they will be no strike thru August. Negotiations resumed today. Strike option still left open for sept.

WSA

[zerotohero]

I would rather an all out strike than a go slow useless effort of ATC, strike, sort yourself out, win or lose and get back on with it or if your not happy go home, dragging this out is just a joke.

[Avman]

A go slow is industrial action and different to working to rule. As far as I'm aware the Spanish controllers are not taking industrial action but simply working to the published rules. That does indeed effectively slow things down but cannot legally be considered as any form of industrial action. Very clever if you ask me.

[kick the tires]

Business as usual then!!!!

[foxcharliep2]

According to „El Pais“ news just published in their online edition, an agreement between AENA and ATC union is likely to be signed later today and the strike threat by ATC will be scrapped.

ATC union spokesman Cesar Cabo is quoted as saying : "There won’t be a strike in August or later”

Shifts will be 4 days on with 2 days off and overtime will be voluntary.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/controladores/AENA/paso/alcanzar/acuerdo/elpepueco/20100813elpepueco_8/Tes

[hapzim]

Back to poor controlling and preference to local airlines

[andrijander]

Back to bashing and to read remarks that bring nothing to the debate

[ant1]

Amigo andrijander, you are witnessing the anglo saxon version of Manolo el del Bombo



(a picture is worth a thousand words).

[McNulty]

After having the misfortune today of flying in and out of spanish airspace, it seems the donkeys are still working to rule. No directs, myserious holds in very quiet airspace and not to mention getting pricked around in order to give way to iberia....throw in your several "station calling"´s and the usual general chaos, it seems to be business as usual for these wonderful professionals

[IcePack]

Yep, the only people being P****d. About are passengers & crews. I bet not one non-Spanish airline has complained officially to the Spanish Government. So Spanish ATC WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GAIN ?
This ain't working, just annoying workers just like you!

[ATC Watcher]

This ain't working,

No, wrong, it looks like it worked , they might get a 4/2 shift system like most of the rest of Europe as a result of this action.

just annoying workers just like you

That is the whole point of industrial action I'd say. If an action does not have any impact , you won't get anything.

Remember that next time it might your turn to follow a Union action to defend whatever you think is important for you and you will certainly annoy a lot of people as a result.
I 'd love to still be around then to read your arguments.

[J.O.]

ATC;

Unlike the Spanish ATC, should a pilot group elect to drop tools in an industrial disagreement, they are not the only game in town and the customer base will simply take their business elsewhere. We do not have that option with ATC in Spain. That is why it is so frustrating to put up with their continuing nonsense. A colleague of mine had a two turn hold on a VMC day at Reus yesterday because a C172 on a practice IFR flight was slotted in ahead of them by Barcelona.

[crapshooter]

Guys,

This is standard stuff for ATC Espanol. I dealt with this cr@p for years while stationed at Torrejon Air Base in Madrid. It is their culture, and no matter what comments you make about the "system" through official channels, it will not change their way of thinking. They loath most foreign carriers, especially US.

I speak based on experience. I've been married to a Spanish Lady for more than 20 years and have a "polite" relationship with her family back in Spain.

Best thing is to not show frustration in your voice over the radio... it will only feed the fire.

Cheers

CS