Five small airports in Oregon are on the Federal Aviation Administration list for potential control tower closings under the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

The FAA says they are among 238 small airports under consideration nationwide with low traffic volumes and control towers operated by contractors.

The FAA is to make a decision by March 18 on closing about 170 of them.

The Oregon airports are in Klamath Falls, North Bend, Pendleton, Salem and Troutdale.

If the towers close, the FAA says the airports will remain open. But pilots would be responsible for their own safety by talking to each other, instead of the tower.

The FAA has to cut $600 million under sequestration. Other savings will come from furloughing FAA employees and other actions.

— Jeff Barnard, Associated Press