Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 7000; Flight Crew Type 1600
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; No Specific Anomaly Occurred Unwanted Situation
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Staffing
ORF is an active Airline and GA airport. There are separate clearance; ground; and local control frequencies. With moderate to heavy traffic; a single controller was handling all three. This created multiple instances of blocked communication. The controller had to juggle all three plus ground coordination with the TRACON. This created an unsafe condition in my opinion. In decades of flying all over the country; I've never encountered this situation. During periods of slow traffic or at less busy airports it works but not under these conditions. The controller was doing the best he could but both pilots and controller were placed into a dangerous situation.Had there been an incident; poor communications would certainly have been a root cause. I would also add that too many pilots and controllers have not learned that speaking faster isn't better. Miscommunication leads to loss of separation; violations; and occasionally crashes. The pros on both sides of the mic have a well-defined cadence that chunks information which largely eliminates repeats and errors.The tower chief needs to reassess staffing requirements during peak periods.
GA pilot reported an unsafe condition at ORF airport due to assumed insufficient staffing. One Tower Controller handles Clearance Delivery; Ground; Tower Control in addition to coordination with TRACON. Reporter recommends reassessment of staffing requirements.