Narrative:

I was the PIC of united states coast guard aircraft returning from offshore near pascagoula, ms, to mobile regional airport. We were VFR at 1500 ft, with ATIS 22 NM bearing 210 degrees from mobile airport (LORAN) when I first called on 121.0 (sector approach frequency). Approach told 'coast guard aircraft calling standby' (no, this is not an arsa violation report). By hearing only 1/2 of the transmission, I could tell that 1 controller was working both sectors. At 14 NM I called again and approach acknowledged our call sign but did not give us a squawk (still on 1200). By now it was clear that he was also working the tower position. At 8 NM I called again and received a squawk and was told to expect to land on 'A3' (southwest side of runway 14) vice the coast guard pad on 'left.' things were getting busy. At 300 ft and 1/4 mi for A3 I asked if we were cleared to land on A3 (radios very busy). Eventually was cleared behind an aircraft on runway 14 and #2 to the coast guard pad behind the aircraft off runway 18. All the while I was still up on 121.0. The controller was working clearance delivery, ground, tower and both approach sectors. I don't have a problem with a controller working a couple of position. What made me uncomfortable was not being up on the appropriate frequency for that portion of airspace. I believe I should have been switched to the tower frequency, allowing no to hear what both sides were saying. It was too busy for 1 controller (or at least that controller).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A UNITES STATES COAST GUARD HELI ACFT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN COMMUNICATING WITH TWR DUE TO THE CTLR WORKING SEVERAL POS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Narrative: I WAS THE PIC OF UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACFT RETURNING FROM OFFSHORE NEAR PASCAGOULA, MS, TO MOBILE REGIONAL ARPT. WE WERE VFR AT 1500 FT, WITH ATIS 22 NM BEARING 210 DEGS FROM MOBILE ARPT (LORAN) WHEN I FIRST CALLED ON 121.0 (SECTOR APCH FREQ). APCH TOLD 'COAST GUARD ACFT CALLING STANDBY' (NO, THIS IS NOT AN ARSA VIOLATION RPT). BY HEARING ONLY 1/2 OF THE XMISSION, I COULD TELL THAT 1 CTLR WAS WORKING BOTH SECTORS. AT 14 NM I CALLED AGAIN AND APCH ACKNOWLEDGED OUR CALL SIGN BUT DID NOT GIVE US A SQUAWK (STILL ON 1200). BY NOW IT WAS CLR THAT HE WAS ALSO WORKING THE TWR POS. AT 8 NM I CALLED AGAIN AND RECEIVED A SQUAWK AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT TO LAND ON 'A3' (SW SIDE OF RWY 14) VICE THE COAST GUARD PAD ON 'L.' THINGS WERE GETTING BUSY. AT 300 FT AND 1/4 MI FOR A3 I ASKED IF WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON A3 (RADIOS VERY BUSY). EVENTUALLY WAS CLRED BEHIND AN ACFT ON RWY 14 AND #2 TO THE COAST GUARD PAD BEHIND THE ACFT OFF RWY 18. ALL THE WHILE I WAS STILL UP ON 121.0. THE CTLR WAS WORKING CLRNC DELIVERY, GND, TWR AND BOTH APCH SECTORS. I DON'T HAVE A PROB WITH A CTLR WORKING A COUPLE OF POS. WHAT MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE WAS NOT BEING UP ON THE APPROPRIATE FREQ FOR THAT PORTION OF AIRSPACE. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWITCHED TO THE TWR FREQ, ALLOWING NO TO HEAR WHAT BOTH SIDES WERE SAYING. IT WAS TOO BUSY FOR 1 CTLR (OR AT LEAST THAT CTLR).

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.