The Federal Aviation Administration has announced dates it plans to cut funding to 149 contract air traffic control towers — including five in Georgia.

Federal officials Wednesday announced funding will be cut to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon and the Athens-Ben Epps Airport on April 21.

Funding is slated to be cut at McCollum Field in Kennesaw, the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany, and the Gwinnett County Airport in Lawrenceville on May 5.

FAA officials say airport operators have the choice to continue operating as a non-towered airport, or continue providing services as a non-federal control tower.

Automatic spending cuts have moved the agency to close contract air traffic control towers in an effort to meet a federally mandated $637 million budget cut.

Tags: FAA, sequestration, airport tower closures