EXHIBIT

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GuIfstreanl

.A GENERAL OVNAMI<;S COMPANY

November 30. 2007

The Honorable Richard Bloom, Mayor

City of Santa Monica, &

City Council Members

1685 Main Street. Room 209

Santa Monica. California 90401

Re: November 27, 2007Agenda Item 7-C: Ordinance Requiring that Aircraft

Operations at Santa Monica Airport Conform with FAA Design Standard

Standards for Category A and B Aircraft

Dear Mayor Bloom and Members of the Council:

It is with great disappointment that Gulfstream Aerospace learned of Santa Monica City

Council's attempt to eliminate access to the Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) for

Category C and D aircraft. The proposed ordinance would prohibit all Gulfstream aircraft

operations at SMO. The claims that category C and D aircraft require more runway length to

operate safely are not factual. Accident data show that the large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft incur

fewer accidents in landing and takeoff phases of flight than smaller airplanes. Also, the larger

airplanes often include more safety features to aid in improving safe operations in airport

environments. It can be argued that C and D category aircraft present less of a danger to

operators and the public at SMO than most aircraft in category B.

It is also incorrect to assume category C and D aircraft are larger, or require more runway, than

category B aircraft. Design and certification requirements for all types of aircraft are based on

operating them from the same airports and leads to a significant overlap in performance

characteristics. In fact, landing at maximum landing weight the Gulfstream G450 requires about

as much runway as a Cessna XLS or Lear 60. And, while the Lear and Cessna have similar

landing weights, one is a Category B aircraft and the other is a Category C aircraft, Also, at

typical landing weights the G450 lands at a lower fraction of its maximum weight than smaller

aircraft and requires less runway. Certification requirements for all categories are founded on

insuring the safe operation of these aircraft at all airports,

A careful study of aircraft incident and accident data available from Breitling Associates also

reveals that Category C and D aircraft have a better safety record in the landing and takeoff

phases of flight. Historical data show that some of the Category B aircraft are 2 to 3 times more

likely to experience an incident during takeoff than Category C aircraft, They also have as much

as 50% more incidents during landing operations,

1>.0 eOK 2206· Savannah, GA 31402 2206 USA' Tc eph{>no (912) 96S·300(J • guifotr""",.com
Gulfstreron

A GENERAL DYNAMIC. COIYIPANV

Gulfstream, as well as other aircraft manufacturers, has invested a significant amount of time and

money to incorporate additional safety features in the design of business aircraft. These

airplanes are operated by people who value safety, their own and those around them, and

therefore also value aircraft with enhanced safety features. Enhanced Vision Systems, Synthetic

Vision Systems, electronic charts, vertical situation displays and auto-throttles are just a few

examples of the technologies incorporated in our aircraft to aid flight crew's operate more safely

in the ai1'p011environment. Many of these technologies are not available in the smaller business

jets (Category B).

We urge the Santa Monica community and its leaders to consider the implications of prohibiting

operation of Category C and D aircraft at SMO. There is no factual basis for the claims that

category C and D aircraftpresent more of a challenge to safety than category B aircraft. In fact

it can be argued that C and D category aircraft offer performance and features that enhance

safety that are not available in most of the smaller jets.

Sincerely,

Larry R. Flynn

President. Product Support

cc.

Mr. Robert Trimbom, Santa Monica Acting Airport Director

Mr. David Bennett, FAA

Mr. Jeff Gilley, NBA.,o\

P.o BOK 2206 • Savannah, GA 31402·2206 USA' Telephone (912) 965·3000' 9uif5tream com