A corporate jet pilot reported that all frg ATC functions were being handled by one person at a very...

Narrative:

Though we had no issues; I wish to report that a staff shortage was causing great delays and potential problems. When we arrived at frg a single controller was operating all ATC frequencies: tower; ground; and clearance. The airport was too busy for that and needed another controller. We got clearance to land from a visual approach very late due to traffic and frequency congestion. While taxiing in; we heard of an airplane blocking another (not sure if that was a bad taxi clearance or pilot error). After unloading and refueling we waited a very long time for our departure clearance. The controller; though keeping her cool; was obviously overworked still handling all 3 frequencies. When we departed; at a possible shift change; a new person did come on tower frequency. It was the first time we had heard a different voice. If this was the normal controller schedule for the day; then it was not enough. This is a busy airport with small piston aircraft mixed in with jet aircraft of all sizes; as well as 3 runways. Add communication with new york approach into the mix; the tower controller should not be handling any other frequencies.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A corporate jet pilot reported that all FRG ATC functions were being handled by one person at a very busy time of the day; which caused extensive clearance and departure delays.

Narrative: Though we had no issues; I wish to report that a staff shortage was causing great delays and potential problems. When we arrived at FRG a single Controller was operating all ATC frequencies: Tower; Ground; and Clearance. The airport was too busy for that and needed another Controller. We got clearance to land from a visual approach very late due to traffic and frequency congestion. While taxiing in; we heard of an airplane blocking another (not sure if that was a bad taxi clearance or pilot error). After unloading and refueling we waited a very long time for our departure clearance. The Controller; though keeping her cool; was obviously overworked still handling all 3 frequencies. When we departed; at a possible shift change; a new person did come on Tower frequency. It was the first time we had heard a different voice. If this was the normal controller schedule for the day; then it was not enough. This is a busy airport with small piston aircraft mixed in with jet aircraft of all sizes; as well as 3 runways. Add communication with New York Approach into the mix; the Tower Controller should not be handling any other frequencies.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1015464
Time
Date	201206
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	FRG.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 5300 Flight Crew Type 150
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

A corporate jet pilot reported that all frg ATC functions were being handled by one person at a very busy time of the day; which caused extensive clearance and departure delays.