Bombardier Business Aircraft saw a “remarkable level” of order intake last year, logging net orders for 343 aircraft versus 191 in 2011, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer reported today. This 43-percent gain does not include firm orders from VistaJet for 56 Globals worth $3.1 billion and from NetJets for 100 Challengers worth $2.6 billion.

Its business jet book to bill, also excluding these fleet orders, was 2.1:1, and Bombardier president and CEO Pierre Beaudoin expects this ratio to remain above 1:1 this year. By product lines, the company has nine months of Learjet backlog (the target is six to nine months); Challenger, 22 months (target 15 to 18 months); and Global, 44 months (target 24 to 30 months). This is exclusive of orders for in-development aircraft, namely the Learjet 70, 75 and 85.

Bombardier delivered 179 business jets last year, 16 more than in 2011. This number includes 24 Learjet 40XR/45XRs, 15 Learjet 60XRs, 48 Challenger 300s, 34 Challenger 605s, four Challenger 850s and 54 Global 5000/6000s. According to Beaudoin, the company expects to deliver 190 business jets this year.

Meanwhile, Bombardier confirmed that the Learjet 85 program has experienced at least a six-month delay, shifting entry into service from late this year to summer 2014. While it said that the first flight-test Learjet 85 is nearly finished, there have been “several new technology challenges,” mostly related to the composite structure, that have affected the timeline.