<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOUND
     ON PAGES 1, 2, AND 3 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE, AND
     IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                   
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                     DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           114,452,000
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    191,862,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                        4,913,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 338,349,000
<PP&E>                                           625,424,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                   135,083,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,118,957,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            242,137,000
<BONDS>                                          581,202,000
<COMMON>                                           8,259,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<OTHER-SE>                                       119,805,000 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,118,957,000
<SALES>                                          346,819,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 346,819,000
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    284,123,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  13,703,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  20,235,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                13,569,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   15,189,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                       6,075,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                7,141,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    2,950,000
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                       4,191,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0