<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 44,205 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 50,968 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 127,835 <PP&E> 439,392 <DEPRECIATION> 6,245 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,056,974 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 196,934 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 110,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 365 <OTHER-SE> 353,036 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,056,974 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 367,984 <CGS> 283,340 <TOTAL-COSTS> 333,215 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,168 <INCOME-PRETAX> 26,384 <INCOME-TAX> 10,558 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,826 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (195) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,631 <EPS-BASIC> 0.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.42