May 8--Hawker Beechcraft recorded a $1.5 million operating loss for the first three months of the year from charges related to its long-awaited Hawker 4000 business jet, company officials said Wednesday.

At the same time, the company reported a record backlog of orders.

"While disappointed by this quarter's operating results, we are still extremely excited about our record billings, increasing backlog and our position in the market," Hawker Beechcraft chairman and chief executive Jim Schuster said in a statement.

The loss was from an $18.4 million charge related to Hawker 4000 super-midsize jets on the production line, the company said. Hawker Beechcraft must make changes to the composite planes to conform with the final type design from the Federal Aviation Administration, it said.

Hawker Beechcraft spokesman Andrew Broom didn't have details on the changes, but said they were "nothing earth-shattering."

"We are working with the FAA to finish all the paperwork," Broom said. "We anticipate delivering the 4000 soon."

He declined to be more specific, but a company official has said recently that deliveries could start in May or June.