<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>                                                             6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                        SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                                                   13,315
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           210,362
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              5,300
<INVENTORY>                                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        327,758
<PP&E>                                                                  347,307
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          112,016
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          993,189
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   147,167
<BONDS>                                                                 310,421
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                  8,633
<OTHER-SE>                                                              488,079
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            993,189
<SALES>                                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        458,346
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           388,217
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         (1,500)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       12,353
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          59,276
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             22,227
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      37,049
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             37,049
<EPS-BASIC>                                                               .44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               .42