Narrative:

I was in the pattern at rnt, cleared to land behind another aircraft. I was having difficulty seeing the other aircraft. I could not communicate with the tower controller because he was busy chit-chatting on tower frequency with someone on the ground about whether or not airport gate codes were secure. (This conversation was much more lengthy than necessary, and should have been handled by phone or on the ground control frequency.) I use this airport frequently. I know that when I land and then taxi back for departure, I am usually told to do so on the tower frequency (not on 'ground'). I landed. As I started my turn-off, I told the controller that I wanted to taxi back and asked him if he wanted me to do so on 'tower' or on 'ground.' he replied, 'taxi as requested.' I asked again if he wanted me on tower or ground frequency. He replied 'affirmative.' I told him that was an 'either/or' question. I received no reply. I taxied back to the active runway, monitoring both frequencys (one on each radio). The tower controller's inappropriate use of the radio while I was in the pattern and his lack of responsiveness and direction on the ground both degraded the safety of my aircraft operation. (This was particularly surprising because the service I receive from renton tower is usually good, and often very good.)

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN A PA28 LNDG RNT WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE TWR BECAUSE THE LCL CTLR, COMBINED WITH GND CTL, WAS ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION UNRELATED TO ATC.

Narrative: I WAS IN THE PATTERN AT RNT, CLRED TO LAND BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT. I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SEEING THE OTHER ACFT. I COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE TWR CTLR BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY CHIT-CHATTING ON TWR FREQ WITH SOMEONE ON THE GND ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT ARPT GATE CODES WERE SECURE. (THIS CONVERSATION WAS MUCH MORE LENGTHY THAN NECESSARY, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY PHONE OR ON THE GND CTL FREQ.) I USE THIS ARPT FREQUENTLY. I KNOW THAT WHEN I LAND AND THEN TAXI BACK FOR DEP, I AM USUALLY TOLD TO DO SO ON THE TWR FREQ (NOT ON 'GND'). I LANDED. AS I STARTED MY TURN-OFF, I TOLD THE CTLR THAT I WANTED TO TAXI BACK AND ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED ME TO DO SO ON 'TWR' OR ON 'GND.' HE REPLIED, 'TAXI AS REQUESTED.' I ASKED AGAIN IF HE WANTED ME ON TWR OR GND FREQ. HE REPLIED 'AFFIRMATIVE.' I TOLD HIM THAT WAS AN 'EITHER/OR' QUESTION. I RECEIVED NO REPLY. I TAXIED BACK TO THE ACTIVE RWY, MONITORING BOTH FREQS (ONE ON EACH RADIO). THE TWR CTLR'S INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE RADIO WHILE I WAS IN THE PATTERN AND HIS LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS AND DIRECTION ON THE GND BOTH DEGRADED THE SAFETY OF MY ACFT OP. (THIS WAS PARTICULARLY SURPRISING BECAUSE THE SVC I RECEIVE FROM RENTON TWR IS USUALLY GOOD, AND OFTEN VERY GOOD.)

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.