B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 6000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors
Approach Controller was moderately busy. Speaking to us in heavily accented English; and to all other aircraft on frequency in Spanish. Controller expected us to maintain 300 KTS below 10;000 FT descending for MPTO. Unsafe due to weather (thunderstorms) and bird strike potential. Communicated this clearly to the Controller; and slowed to 250 below 10;000 FT. Procedure required 210 KTS at fix we were cleared to; and slowed to 210; Controller then left us very high; and tried to keep us at 210 for too long. [We] had to slow to be able to descend smoothly and safely for a stabilized approach. After landing in moderate rain on wet runway in B757 using autobrakes 3; turned off at last high speed. Then the Ground Controller asked us to 'expedite clear of runway'; which we already were; and there was a B777 pushed to the point that it was almost blocking the ramp access from the high speed. Ground Controller also had heavy accent and was constantly chattering in Spanish to other aircraft. In moderate rain; at night; with moderate traffic; rushing taxi would have been foolish and unsafe. ATC at MPTO is an unmitigated disaster; and with the huge increase in traffic; it has become unsafe in my honest opinion. FAA and ICAO need to go down and clean that place up immediately. English with strong accents; Spanish to most of the traffic; and a rush; rush; rush MO are NOT conducive to safe operations.
B757 Captain describes and arrival and landing at MPTO that he believes was unsafe due to the Controller's instructions to keep speed up; the strong Spanish accents and the use of Spanish for most ATC instructions.