Air Traffic Tower Closures Will Strip Safety Net

In this March 12, 2013 photo, an American Eagle jet taxis to a gate past the control tower after landing at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Ill. The airport is one of nearly 240 small airports around the country that will likely shut down their air traffic control towers under federal budget cuts, stripping away a layer of safety during takeoffs and landings and leaving many pilots to manage the most critical stages of flight on their own. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

CLICK HERE - List of 149 control towers FAA says will close April 7 due to forced spending cuts - via CNN (4 page .PDF file)

Associated Press - by Jason Keyser - March 15, 2013

CHICAGO (AP) — The planned shutdown of up to 238 air traffic control towers across the country under federal budget cuts will strip away an extra layer of safety during takeoffs and landings, leaving pilots to manage the most critical stages of flight on their own.

The towers slated to close are at smaller airports with lighter traffic, and all pilots are trained to land without help by communicating among themselves on a common radio frequency. But airport directors and pilots say there is little doubt the removal of that second pair of eyes on the ground increases risk and will slow the progress that has made the U.S. air system the safest in the world.

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