<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS AND  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF EARNINGS  AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                               1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                        DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                                                    3,208
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           179,553
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              4,800
<INVENTORY>                                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        242,551
<PP&E>                                                                  319,535
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          116,841
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          744,328
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   110,422
<BONDS>                                                                 312,582
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                  7,861
<OTHER-SE>                                                              278,497
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            744,328
<SALES>                                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        521,080
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           559,474
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         (5,717)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       12,917
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                         (45,594)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             (9,549)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                     (36,045)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                            (36,045)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              (.48)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              (.48)