Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Staffing
While exiting ramp; [my First Officer] contacted AFW ground. We were given taxi clearance to taxi Via A to Rwy 16L. Upon reaching H; [my First Officer] yelled. I immediately applied max braking and noticed Aircraft Y. One controller works clearance delivery; ground and tower. The workload is too high and communications are difficult at best during busy times. I have found this confusing multiple times.
[The Captain] and I taxied out and turned onto A to taxi to runway 16L. An aircraft took off at the end of 16L as we made the turn to A and tower cleared Aircraft Y to line up and wait. Taxi checks were done at this point and I looked for Aircraft Y to pull onto the runway at the end on 16L. I did not see Aircraft Y so I looked to H for an intersection take off and again; no Aircraft Y. At this point we were approaching the intersection of A and H taxiways. I saw a flash of light on my right side; looked; and there was Aircraft Y. Aircraft Y was coming out of H from the right to left. I yelled at [the Captain] and he applied full brakes and turned us away from Aircraft Y. Aircraft Y saw us at this point and applied the brakes. When we came to a stop; I guess there was less than 30 feet from his prop to my cockpit window. Aircraft Y rolled backwards; and told us over the radio that we would clear if we continued to taxi. We advised tower of what happened; and he did not know that Aircraft Y was not on the runway. After a few minutes to gather ourselves; we continued to the end of 16L and continued the flight. ATC clearly did not know where Aircraft Y was in relation to us. Aircraft Y accepted a line up and wait clearance when he was nowhere close to the runway. When taxiing; always be scanning for traffic. Always.
Air carrier flight crew reported having to make an abrupt stop to avoid a collision with another taxiing aircraft at AFW.