CHICAGO – Air traffic control towers could be shut down at nine Illinois airports, including in the state capital, if no deal is reached in Washington to avert federal spending cuts scheduled to take effect next month.

In preparation for cuts that would squeeze many government agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration is making plans to trim $600 million in spending for the rest of the fiscal year, leading transportation officials to warn of a multitude of travel disruptions.

The steps could include the closure of more than 100 air traffic control towers at smaller airports nationwide. The airfields still would be allowed to operate, but pilots using plane-to-plane radios would be left to coordinate landings and takeoffs among themselves with no assistance from ground controllers, according to the FAA.