PA28 pilot advises that single controller is distraction by working 3 position at bdr.

Attributes
ACN	420214
Time
Date	199811
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdr airport : bdr
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bdr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	420214
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

In closed traffic for runway 29, on upwind, requested closed traffic for runway 24. Approved by ATC. On base for runway 24, advised ATC. ATC questioned what runway we were planning to touch- and-go if not runway 29. Controller appeared to be doing all 3 position (local, ground, and clearance) because we could hear him on ground, clearance and local (all on tower frequency). Additionally, he was having to rewrite at least 2 IFR clrncs because he was telling the IFR departures that he had to rewrite clrncs. Rewriting IFR clrncs is a common requirement for ATC at this tower. IFR arrs were using both runway 5 and runway 24. Our base for runway 24 could have been a safety issue if we were not keeping track of the IFR arrs. This controller does a good job with traffic, but when he has to do clearance, ground, local -- and rewrite clrncs as well as handle the approach landline -- we have a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately. This is a common occurrence at bdr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT ADVISES THAT SINGLE CTLR IS DISTR BY WORKING 3 POS AT BDR.

Narrative: IN CLOSED TFC FOR RWY 29, ON UPWIND, REQUESTED CLOSED TFC FOR RWY 24. APPROVED BY ATC. ON BASE FOR RWY 24, ADVISED ATC. ATC QUESTIONED WHAT RWY WE WERE PLANNING TO TOUCH- AND-GO IF NOT RWY 29. CTLR APPEARED TO BE DOING ALL 3 POS (LCL, GND, AND CLRNC) BECAUSE WE COULD HEAR HIM ON GND, CLRNC AND LCL (ALL ON TWR FREQ). ADDITIONALLY, HE WAS HAVING TO REWRITE AT LEAST 2 IFR CLRNCS BECAUSE HE WAS TELLING THE IFR DEPS THAT HE HAD TO REWRITE CLRNCS. REWRITING IFR CLRNCS IS A COMMON REQUIREMENT FOR ATC AT THIS TWR. IFR ARRS WERE USING BOTH RWY 5 AND RWY 24. OUR BASE FOR RWY 24 COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE IF WE WERE NOT KEEPING TRACK OF THE IFR ARRS. THIS CTLR DOES A GOOD JOB WITH TFC, BUT WHEN HE HAS TO DO CLRNC, GND, LCL -- AND REWRITE CLRNCS AS WELL AS HANDLE THE APCH LANDLINE -- WE HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT BDR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.