Tweed among airports losing control tower

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Tweed-New Haven is among small airports in Connecticut and around the country losing their air traffic control towers because of federal budget cuts.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it will close 149 air traffic control towers. In Connecticut, the decision also affects Danbury Municipal, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Sikorsky Memorial and Waterbury-Oxford.

The airports will remain open. Pilots will be left to coordinate takeoffs and landings among themselves over a shared radio frequency with no help from ground controllers.

The FAA says it will take steps to ensure safe operations.

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy say the decision will hurt the regional economy and they're trying to get the money restored. A Tweed official says it could hurt its chartered jet business.