Bombardier

Bombardier [BBD] obtained a new $1.1 billion unsecured line of credit from an international syndicate of banks. The loan is due July 10, 2007. The new line of credit replaces an existing loan agreement. Bombardier had sought a $1 billion loan, but because more banks wanted a piece of it (known as oversubscribing, a common occurrence), the amount of the loan was pushed up to $1.1 billion. National Bank Financial and Citigroup Global Markets arranged the loan deal and led the 16 financial institutions in assembling it. Bombardier did not indicate if the loan was for a specific project.

Bombardier last month delivered a 74-passenger CRJ 700 to Styrian Spirit in Austria. The CRJ 700 is a larger class of RJs for the carrier. Styrian Spirit already flies three CRJ 200s. The larger aircraft is one of the first to be delivered with the new General Electric [GE] CF34-8C5B1 engines. The carrier is the first in Europe with the new engines and the fourth CRJ 700 customer on the continent.

Embraer

Brazil's Embraer [ERJ] has begun marketing its two new jets, the light and very light aircraft. It is now taking orders at its sales offices around the globe. The very light jet, priced at $2.75 million, will be able to carry up to eight. It should be ready for service in mid-2008. The light jet will be designed to handle nine and its delivery is anticipated to be in mid-2009. The price of the plane will be about $6.65 million.

Pemco

Pemco Aviation Group [PAGI] has hired Wall Street's Bear Stearns as its financial advisor as it explores strategic alternatives. The board has not agreed to accept any proposal or to take any other action until Bear Stearns makes its recommendations. No offer has been made for the company, which provides aircraft maintenance and aircraft modification services.

Soundair

GE Commercial Finance recently assembled a $2.3 million financing package for Soundair Aviation Services, of Snohomish, Wash. The funds provided for the expansion of Soundair's new 18,500-square-foot facility as it relocated from Bellevue, Wash. Soundair specializes in refurbishing and repairing airline parts for both commercial and private jets.

ARINC

ServiceElements, a customer service motivational and strategy firm, signed an agreement with ARINC to provide strategy workshops and seminars to the ARINC Direct Fight Support Services.

Embry-Riddle

JetBlue Airways [JBLU] signed an educational collaboration agreement with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Under the agreement, Embry- Riddle will provide a "train-the-trainer" program for JetBlue's Airbus 320 and Embraer 190 simulator trainers. JetBlue is opening a 107,000-square-foot educational facility at Orlando International Airport. JetBlue in return will provide internships for Embry-Riddle students at the Orlando facility. JetBlue has been adding six new employees a day as it accepts one new airplane every 10 days.

Network Appliance

Independence Air [FLYI] has deployed the Network Appliance [NTAP] NetApp unified computer data storage system at its Washington Dulles hub center and at 45 destination airports. The new system replaced a frame array and direct-attached storage systems. The new system simplified the carriers' data management by permitting it to use a single computer platform. With the new system, the amount of time it took to complete one task fell from two hours to 45 minutes.