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AIR T INC - Quarter Report: 2005 December (Form 10-Q)

Air T, Inc. 10Q for period ending 12/31/05
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q

               (Mark one)
         X___  Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2005
  
                ________              Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from _____to _____
 
Commission File Number
011720 
 
Air T, Inc.  
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
  Delaware   52-1206400    
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)


  Post Office Box 488, Denver, North Carolina 28037  
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
  (704) 377-2109   
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ____X_____  
No ________

 

 
  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer (see definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer) in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  
 
Large Accelerated Filer_____
Accelerated Filer______
Non Accelerated Filer __X___


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)
  
Yes ________  
No __X___

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
2,671,293 Common Shares, par value of $.25 per share were outstanding as of February 9, 2006.
 
This filing contains 26 pages.




   
                         AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
INDEX
         
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   

     
PAGE
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
   
         
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
   
 
for the three and nine-month periods ended
   
 
December 31, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)
 
3
         
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at
   
 
December 31, 2005 (Unaudited)
   
 
and March 31, 2005
 
4
 
 
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash
   
 
Flows for the nine-month periods
   
 
ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)
 
5
         
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’
   
 
Equity and Other Comprehensive Income for the
   
 
nine-month periods ended December 31,
   
 
2005 and 2004(Unaudited)
 
6
         
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
   
 
Statements (Unaudited)
 
7-12
         
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
   
   
of Financial Condition and Results
   
   
of Operations
 
12-19
         
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure
   
   
About Market Risk
 
19
 
 
     
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
19

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
   

 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
20-21
         
 
 
     
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
21
         
   
Signatures
 
22
         
   
Exhibit Index
 
23
         
   
Officers’ Certifications
 
24-26
 
2

 
Item 1. Financial Statements

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 

 
Three Months Ended  
Nine Months Ended
 
December 31, 
December 31,
     
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
Operating Revenues:
                         
Overnight air cargo
 
$
10,549,955
 
$
10,066,069
 
$
32,469,364
 
$
28,669,675
 
Ground equipment
   
12,864,831
   
8,267,516
   
26,297,588
   
21,116,387
 
     
23,414,786
   
18,333,585
   
58,766,952
   
49,786,062
 
                           
Operating Expenses:
                         
Flight-air cargo
   
5,085,348
   
4,193,755
   
14,041,163
   
12,134,053
 
Maintenance-air cargo
   
4,019,817
   
4,482,079
   
13,477,674
   
11,823,975
 
Ground equipment
   
10,641,270
   
6,607,757
   
21,788,198
   
16,586,117
 
General and administrative
   
2,330,762
   
2,092,069
   
6,889,038
   
6,201,507
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
188,121
   
182,809
   
509,772
   
482,522
 
     
22,265,318
   
17,558,469
   
56,705,845
   
47,228,174
 
                           
Operating Income
   
1,149,468
   
775,116
   
2,061,107
   
2,557,888
 
                           
Non-operating (Income) Expense:
                         
Interest, net
   
62,209
   
23,246
   
122,024
   
74,894
 
Deferred retirement expense
   
5,250
   
5,250
   
15,750
   
15,750
 
Investment income and other
   
(24,774
)
 
(17,406
)
 
(92,949
)
 
(70,075
)
     
42,685
   
11,090
   
44,825
   
20,569
 
                           
Earnings Before Income Taxes
   
1,106,783
   
764,026
   
2,016,282
   
2,537,319
 
                           
Income Tax Expense
   
431,555
   
278,736
   
799,196
   
980,463
 
                           
Net Earnings
 
$
675,228
 
$
485,290
 
$
1,217,086
 
$
1,556,856
 
                           
Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share
 
$
0.25
 
$
0.18
 
$
0.46
 
$
0.58
 
                           
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
                         
 Basic
   
2,671,293
   
2,693,001
   
2,671,293
   
2,679,054
 
 Diluted
   
2,671,714
   
2,693,586
   
2,671,793
   
2,699,878
 
                           
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
                 


3



 AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
 

 
   
DECEMBER31, 2005 
   
MARCH 31, 2005
 
ASSETS
   
(Unaudited)
 
 
(Note)
 
Current Assets:
             
 Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
2,192,044
 
$
3,497,659
 
 Marketable securities
   
780,676
   
812,112
 
 Accounts receivable, less allowance
             
 for doubtful accounts of $278,480 at December
             
 31, 2005 and $267,194 at March 31, 2005
   
12,718,199
   
7,392,700
 
 Income taxes receivable
   
-
   
465,610
 
 Notes and other non-trade receivables-current
   
69,100
   
116,288
 
 Inventories, net
   
6,545,859
   
6,102,637
 
 Deferred tax assets
   
610,243
   
568,870
 
 Prepaid expenses and other
   
550,687
   
77,447
 
 Total Current Assets
   
23,466,808
   
19,033,323
 
               
Property and Equipment
   
9,086,301
   
8,597,178
 
 Less accumulated depreciation
   
(5,878,471
)
 
(5,439,142
)
 Property and Equipment, net
   
3,207,830
   
3,158,036
 
               
Deferred Tax Assets
   
181,605
   
389,771
 
Other Assets
   
58,864
   
54,635
 
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance Policies
   
1,245,000
   
1,163,000
 
Notes and Other Non-Trade Receivables-Long Term
   
229,998
   
310,160
 
 Total Assets
 
$
28,390,105
 
$
24,108,925
 
 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current Liabilities:
             
 Accounts payable
 
$
6,523,087
 
$
6,092,186
 
 Income taxes payable
   
75,706
   
-
 
 Accrued expenses
   
1,887,069
   
2,200,866
 
 Current portion of long-term debt and obligations
   
178,045
   
191,256
 
 Total Current Liabilities
   
8,663,907
   
8,484,308
 
               
Capital Lease Obligations (less current portion)
   
20,807
   
29,546
 
Long-Term Debt (less current portion)
   
5,374,298
   
1,024,052
 
Deferred Retirement Obligations (less current portion)
   
696,020
   
1,485,466
 
               
Stockholders' Equity:
             
 Preferred stock, $1 par value, authorized 50,000 shares,
             
 none issued
   
-
   
-
 
 Common stock, par value $.25; authorized 4,000,000 shares;
             
 2,671,293 shares issued and outstanding
   
667,823
   
667,823
 
 Additional paid in capital
   
6,939,357
   
6,939,357
 
 Retained earnings
   
6,002,558
   
5,453,105
 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income, net
   
25,335
   
25,268
 
     
13,635,073
   
13,085,553
 
 Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
28,390,105
 
$
24,108,925
 
 
             
Note: The balance sheet at March 31, 2005 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements included in the Company's Annual Report, Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2005.
             
               
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
             

4
 
AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 
 
December 31, 
     
2005
   
2004
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
             
Net earnings
 
$
1,217,086
 
$
1,556,856
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
             
cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
             
Change in accounts receivable and inventory reserves
   
20,813
   
(65,795
)
Depreciation and amortization
   
509,772
   
482,522
 
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
   
(82,000
)
 
(135,000
)
Deferred tax provision
   
166,793
   
31,064
 
Net periodic pension (benefit) cost
   
(50,658
)
 
122,997
 
Change in assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash
             
Accounts receivable
   
(5,336,785
)
 
(1,891,039
)
Notes receivable
   
127,350
   
113,491
 
Income taxes receivable/payable
   
541,316
   
(251,442
)
Inventories
   
(770,747
)
 
(182,521
)
Prepaid expenses and other
   
(477,469
)
 
91,280
 
Accounts payable
   
430,901
   
872,752
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
   
(315,047
)
 
(86,745
)
Deferred retirement obligation
   
(695,354
)
 
-
 
Net billings in excess of costs and estimated
             
 earnings on uncompleted contracts
   
-
   
(426,334
)
Total adjustments
   
(5,931,115
)
 
(1,324,770
)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
   
(4,714,029
)
 
232,086
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
   
-
   
(6,380
)
Capital expenditures
   
(283,752
)
 
(358,430
)
Cash proceeds from sale of fixed assets
   
-
   
55,000
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(283,752
)
 
(309,810
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
             
Proceeds on (payments to) aircraft term loan
   
(74,409
)
 
947,566
 
Net borrowings on line of credit
   
4,434,208
   
542,751
 
Payment of cash dividend
   
(667,633
)
 
(535,658
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
-
   
213,710
 
Repurchase of common stock
   
-
   
(179,424
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
3,692,166
   
988,945
 
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
(1,305,615
)
 
911,221
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
3,497,659
   
459,449
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
 
$
2,192,044
 
$
1,370,670
 
               
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
             
Cash paid during the period for:
             
Interest
 
$
139,642
 
$
104,744
 
Income taxes
   
87,931
   
1,200,840
 
               
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT NON-CASH INFORMATION:
             
Decrease in fair value of marketable securities, net of tax
 
$
(22,093
)
$
(38,095
)
Leased equipment transferred to inventory
   
172,059
   
319,866
 
Increase in fair market value of derivative instruments, net of tax
   
22,160
   
39,888
 
               
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
             

5


AIR T, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)


 
   
 
                     
Accumulated 
       
 
Common Stock 
 
Additional
   
Retained
   
Other
   
Total
 
 
               
Paid-In 
   
Earnings
   
Comprehensive
   
Stockholders'
 
 
   
Shares 
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
   
Income (Loss
)
 
Equity
 
                                       
Balance, March 31, 2004
   
2,686,827
 
$
671,706
 
$
6,834,279
 
$
4,127,484
 
$
43,331
 
$
11,676,800
 
                                       
Comprehensive Income:
                                     
Net earnings
                     
1,556,856
             
Change in investment value,
                                     
net of tax
                           
(38,095
)
     
Change in fair value of
                                     
derivative instruments, net of tax
                     
   
39,888
   
 
Total Comprehensive Income
                                 
1,558,649
 
Repurchase and retirement
                                     
of common stock
   
(39,493
)
 
(9,873
)
 
(32,526
)
 
(137,025
)
       
(179,424
)
Exercise of stock options
   
63,000
   
15,750
   
197,960
               
213,710
 
Cash dividend
                                     
($0.20 per share)
                     
(535,658
)
       
(535,658
)
                                       
Balance, December 31, 2004
   
2,710,334
 
$
677,583
 
$
6,999,713
 
$
5,011,657
 
$
45,124
 
$
12,734,077
 
                                       
                                       
                                       
 
                           
Accumulated 
       
 
 
Common Stock 
 
Additional
   
Retained
   
Other
   
Total
 
 
               
Paid-In 
   
Earnings
   
Comprehensive
   
Stockholders'
 
 
   
Shares 
   
Amount
 
 
Capital
   
   
Income (Loss)
 
 
Equity
 
                                       
Balance, March 31, 2005
   
2,671,293
 
$
667,823
 
$
6,939,357
 
$
5,453,105
 
$
25,268
 
$
13,085,553
 
                                       
Comprehensive Income:
                                     
Net earnings
                     
1,217,086
             
Change in investment value,
                                     
net of tax
                           
(22,093
)
     
Change in fair value of
                                     
derivative instruments, net of tax
                     
   
22,160
   
 
Total Comprehensive Income
                                 
1,217,153
 
-
                                     
-
                                     
Cash dividend
                                     
($0.25 per share)
                     
(667,633
)
       
(667,633
)
                                       
Balance, December 31, 2005
   
2,671,293
 
$
667,823
 
$
6,939,357
 
$
6,002,558
 
$
25,335
 
$
13,635,073
 
                                       
                                       
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
                 

6

 
AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1. Financial Statement Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2005 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income, for the periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 have been prepared by Air T, Inc. (the Company) without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of December 31, 2005, and for the periods presented, have been made.

It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005. The results of operations for the period ended December 31 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.


2. Income Taxes

The tax effect of temporary differences, primarily asset reserves and accrued liabilities, gave rise to the Company's deferred tax asset in the accompanying December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005 consolidated balance sheets. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequence of such temporary differences at the enacted tax rate expected to be in effect when the differences reverse.

The income tax provision for operations for the respective three and nine-months ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily as a result of state income taxes and, to a lesser extent, other permanent tax differences. The effective income tax rates for the nine and three-month periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were 39.6% and 38.6%, and 39.0% and 36.5%, respectively.


3. Net Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. For purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, shares issuable under the Company’s stock option plans were considered potential common shares and were included in the weighted average common shares unless they were anti-dilutive. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, 1,000 outstanding stock options were anti-dilutive.

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended  
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31,  
December 31,
     
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
                           
Net earnings
 
$
675,228
 
$
485,290
 
$
1,217,086
 
$
1,556,856
 
                           
Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share
 
$
0.25
 
$
0.18
 
$
0.46
 
$
0.58
 
                           
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
                         
Basic
   
2,671,293
   
2,693,001
   
2,671,293
   
2,679,054
 
Plus: Incremental shares from stock options
   
421
   
585
   
500
   
20,824
 
Diluted
   
2,671,714
   
2,693,586
   
2,671,793
   
2,699,878
 

7

4. Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

 
   
December 31, 2005 
   
March 31, 2005
 
Aircraft parts and supplies
 
$
681,503
 
$
767,936
 
Ground equipment manufacturing:
             
Raw materials
   
5,067,160
   
3,844,875
 
Work in process
   
1,161,614
   
1,305,891
 
Finished goods
   
86,472
   
625,298
 
Total inventory
   
6,996,749
   
6,544,000
 
Reserves
   
(450,890
)
 
(441,363
)
               
Total, net of reserves
 
$
6,545,859
 
$
6,102,637
 


5. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs, an Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4. This statement clarifies that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted materials should be recognized as current-period charges and requires the allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The guidance is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 153, Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets, an Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29. This statement amends APB 29 to account for non-monetary exchanges at fair value unless the exchanges do not have commercial substance. A non-monetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The guidance is effective for non-monetary exchanges occurring in fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. Statement 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and amends SFAS No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows. Generally, the approach in Statement 123(R) is similar to the approach described in SFAS No. 123. However, SFAS No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative.

SFAS No. 123(R) must be adopted no later than the beginning of the first annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. Early adoption will be permitted in periods in which financial statements have not yet been issued. We expect to adopt SFAS No. 123(R) on April 1, 2006, using the modified prospective method allowed by the statement.

As permitted by SFAS No. 123, the Company currently accounts for share-based payments to employees using Opinion 25’s intrinsic value method and, as such, generally recognizes no compensation cost for employee stock options. The impact of adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) cannot be predicted at this time because it will depend on levels of share-based payments granted in the future. However, had we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) in the current periods, the impact would be as follows:
8


 
 
Three Months Ended  
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31,  
December 31,
     
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
                           
Net earnings
 
$
675,228
 
$
485,290
 
$
1,217,086
 
$
1,556,856
 
                           
Compensation expense, net of tax
   
(18,450
)
 
(1,011
)
 
(18,450
)
 
(1,011
)
Pro forma net earnings
 
$
656,778
 
$
484,279
 
$
1,198,636
 
$
1,555,845
 
                           
Basic and diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.25
 
$
0.18
 
$
0.46
 
$
0.58
 
Compensation expense, net of tax
   
(0.01
)
 
(0.00
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.00
)
                           
Proforma basic and diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.24
 
$
0.18
 
$
0.45
 
$
0.58
 


6.  
Warranty Reserve

The Company’s ground equipment subsidiary warranties its products for up to a three-year period from date of sale. Product warranty reserves are included in accrued expenses and are recorded at time of sale based on the historical average warranty cost and are adjusted as actual warranty cost becomes known.

Product warranty reserve activity during the three and nine-months ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:


 
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended
 
December 31, 
December 31,
     
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
                           
Beginning balance
 
$
210,000
 
$
156,000
 
$
198,000
 
$
147,000
 
Additions to reserve
   
128,000
   
71,000
   
183,000
   
136,000
 
Use of reserve
   
(4,000
)
 
(60,000
)
 
(47,000
)
 
(116,000
)
Ending balance
 
$
334,000
 
$
167,000
 
$
334,000
 
$
167,000
 
 
9


7. Derivative Financial Instruments

As required by SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, the Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and measures those instruments at fair value.

The Company is exposed to market risk, such as changes in interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to interest rate risk, the Company may enter into interest rate hedging arrangements from time to time.
 
On October 30, 2003, the Company terminated an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $2,400,000, entered into in May 2001, for $97,500. The fair-market-value termination fee was ratably amortized into interest expense through the, then current, bank credit line termination date of August 31, 2005.

The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. As of December 31, 2005 the Company had no derivative financial instruments outstanding. The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates on certain portions of its line of credit, which bears interest based on the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 137 basis points. If the LIBOR interest rate had been increased by one percentage point, based on the balance of the line of credit at December 31, 2005, annual interest expense would have increased by approximately $47,000.


8.  
Financing Arrangements

In January 2006, the Company amended the terms of its $7,000,000 credit line to increase its line of credit limit to $8,000,000 through April 30, 2006, at which time the line limit will step-down to $7,000,000 to maturity. In August 2005, the Company amended the terms of its $7,000,000 secured long-term revolving credit line and extended its expiration date to August 31, 2007. The revolving credit line contains customary events of default, a subjective acceleration clause and restrictive covenants that, among other matters, require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios. There is no requirement for the Company to maintain a lock-box arrangement under this agreement. As of December 31, 2005, the Company was in compliance with all of the restrictive covenants. The amount of credit available to the Company under the agreement at any given time is determined by an availability calculation, based on the eligible borrowing base, as defined in the credit agreement, which includes the Company’s outstanding receivables, inventories and equipment, with certain exclusions. At December 31, 2005, $2,337,000 was available under the terms of the credit facility. The credit facility is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

Amounts advanced under the credit facility bear interest at the 30-day “LIBOR” rate plus 137 basis points. The LIBOR rate at December 31, 2005 was 4.39%. At December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005, the amounts outstanding against the line were $4,663,000 and $239,000, respectively.

In March 2004, the Company utilized its revolving credit line to acquire a corporate aircraft for $975,000. In April 2004, the Company refinanced the aircraft under a secured 4.35% fixed rate five-year term loan, based on a ten-year amortization with a balloon payment at the end of the fifth year.

The Company assumes various financial obligations and commitments in the normal course of its operations and financing activities. Financial obligations are considered to represent known future cash payments that the Company is required to make under existing contractual arrangements such as debt and lease agreements.
 
9.  
Segment Information

The Company operates three subsidiaries in two business segments, overnight air cargo and ground equipment. Each business segment has separate management teams and infrastructures that offer different products and services. The overnight air cargo segment encompasses services provided primarily to one customer, Federal Express Corporation (“the Customer”), and the ground equipment segment encompasses the operations of Global Ground Support, LLC (“Global”).

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on operating income.
10

Segment data is summarized as follows:
 
 
 
Three months ended December 31, 
Nine months ended December 31,
     
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
                           
Operating Revenues
                         
Overnight Air Cargo:
                         
Domestic
 
$
8,366,685
 
$
8,102,606
 
$
25,627,750
 
$
22,670,585
 
International
   
2,183,270
   
1,963,463
   
6,841,614
   
5,999,090
 
Total Overnight Air Cargo
   
10,549,955
   
10,066,069
   
32,469,364
   
28,669,675
 
Ground Equipment:
                         
Domestic
   
7,450,860
   
8,043,175
   
19,775,444
   
20,547,274
 
International
   
5,413,971
   
224,341
   
6,522,144
   
569,113
 
Total Ground Equipment
   
12,864,831
   
8,267,516
   
26,297,588
   
21,116,387
 
Total
 
$
23,414,786
 
$
18,333,585
 
$
58,766,952
 
$
49,786,062
 
                           
Operating Income (Loss)
                         
Overnight Air Cargo
 
$
426,110
 
$
310,526
 
$
1,926,180
 
$
1,591,218
 
Ground Equipment
   
1,182,677
   
970,532
   
1,679,500
   
2,332,503
 
Corporate (1)
   
(459,319
)
 
(505,942
)
 
(1,544,573
)
 
(1,365,833
)
Total
 
$
1,149,468
 
$
775,116
 
$
2,061,107
 
$
2,557,888
 
                           
Depreciation and Amortization
                 
Overnight Air Cargo
 
$
126,566
 
$
127,607
 
$
349,964
 
$
338,319
 
Ground Equipment
   
50,300
   
42,050
   
117,850
   
103,194
 
Corporate
   
11,255
   
13,152
   
41,958
   
41,009
 
Total
 
$
188,121
 
$
182,809
 
$
509,772
 
$
482,522
 
                           
Capital Expenditures, net
                         
Overnight Air Cargo
 
$
54,937
 
$
98,390
 
$
200,457
 
$
222,815
 
Ground Equipment
   
24,141
   
43,071
   
37,030
   
47,303
 
Corporate
   
10,769
   
3,687
   
46,265
   
88,312
 
Total
 
$
89,847
 
$
145,148
 
$
283,752
 
$
358,430
 
                           
                           
 
As of 
           
 
   
December 31, 2005 
   
March 31, 2005
             
Identifiable Assets
                         
Overnight Air Cargo
 
$
6,415,525
 
$
7,312,183
             
Ground Equipment
   
18,269,857
   
10,180,943
             
Corporate
   
3,704,723
   
6,615,799
             
                           
Total
 
$
28,390,105
 
$
24,108,925
             
                           
(1) Includes income from inter-segment transactions.
           
 
11
 
 

 
10. Commitments and Contingencies
 
    Global and one of its former employees were named as defendants in a lawsuit commenced in March 2002 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Catalyst & Chemical Services, et al. vs Global Ground Support, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:02CV00388.  The plaintiffs claimed to have developed a novel method of aircraft de/ant-icing, and alleged that the system was the subject of trade secrets and a patent.  The plaintiffs alleged that Global and its former employee misappropriated the trade secrets, breached a confidentiality agreement, and infringed the patent.  Global asserted counterclaims against the plaintiffs alleging defamation. In May 2004, Global moved for summary judgment on all claims against it and its former employee, and the plaintiffs moved for summary judgment on the patent infringement claim. On December 14, 2004, the Court granted Global's summary judgment motion as to the patent infringement claim and denied the plaintiffs' summary judgment motions entirely. In May 2005, a jury trial was held with respect to the plaintiffs' remaining claims and Global's counterclaims. On May 31, 2005, the jury returned a verdict for Global and its former employee with respect to all of the plaintiffs' claims submitted for trial and for the plaintiffs with respect to the Global's counterclaims. The plaintiffs have appealed the jury's verdict and the court's summary judgment rulings.  Global intends to continue to vigorously defend this matter.
 
On February 28, 2005, a 135-foot fixed-stand deicing boom sold by Global to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania airport and maintained by Global collapsed on an Airbus 330 aircraft operated by US Airways. Immediately following this incident, the remaining eleven fixed stand deicing booms sold by Global and installed at the Philadelphia airport were placed out of service pending investigation of their structural soundness. These booms include 114-foot smaller deicing booms, as well as additional 135-foot extended deicing booms. All of these booms were designed, fabricated and installed by parties other than Global and are the only booms of this model that have been sold by Global.
 
In late June 2005, after an independent structural engineering firm’s investigation identified specific design flaws and structural defects in the remaining 11 booms and Global’s subcontractor declined to participate in efforts to return the remaining 11 booms to service, Global agreed with the City of Philadelphia (“the City”) to effect specific repairs to the remaining 11 booms. The agreement establishes time schedules for the completion of repairs to the booms, with the booms to be returned to service during the Company’s second and third quarters. Under this agreement, Global agreed to effect these repairs at its expense and has reserved its rights to recover these expenses from any third party ultimately determined to be responsible for defects and flaws in these booms. The agreement provides that if Global performs its obligations under the agreement, the City will not pursue any legal remedies against Global for the identified design flaws and structural defects with respect to these 11 booms. However, the City retains its rights with respect to any cause of action arising from the collapse of the boom in February 2005.
 
    On October 14, 2005, Global completed the repair, installation and recertification of ten of the deicing booms. Repair had been completed on the eleventh boom, which was then damaged in transit to the Philadelphia airport by an independent carrier. Further repair work on that boom is being undertaken at the carrier’s expense.

    During the nine and three-month periods ended December 31, 2005, Global, respectively, incurred approximately $905,000 and $117,000 in connection with its efforts to have the booms returned to service which amounts are included in Global's operating expenses for the periods ended December 31, 2005.
 
On August 4, 2005, Global commenced litigation in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania against Glazer Enterprises, Inc. t/a Elliott Equipment Company, Global’s subcontractor that designed, fabricated and warrantied the booms at the Philadelphia airport, seeking to recover costs incurred in connection with repairing the 11 booms and any damages arising from the collapse of the boom in February 2005. The Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to recover its repair expenses, or otherwise be successful, in this action.
 
The Company is currently involved in certain personal injury and environmental matters, which involve pending or threatened lawsuits. Management believes the results of these pending or threatened lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or financial position.
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
Overview
 
    The Company operates in two business segments, providing overnight air cargo services to the express delivery services industry and aviation ground support and other specialized equipment products to passenger and cargo airlines, airports, the military and industrial customers. Each business segment has separate management teams and infrastructures that offer different products and services. The Company’s air cargo operations, which are comprised of its Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. (“MAC”) and CSA Air, Inc.  (“CSA”) subsidiaries, accounted for 55.3% and 45.1% of revenue for the nine and three months ended December 31, 2005, respectively. The Company’s ground support operations, comprised of its Global Ground Support, LLC subsidiary (“Global”), accounted for the remaining 44.7% and 54.9% of revenues for the nine and three months ended December 31, 2005, respectively.
12
 

 
     MAC and CSA provide short-haul express air freight services primarily to one customer, Federal Express Corporation (“the Customer”). Under the terms of its Customer’s dry-lease service agreements which currently cover approximately 99% of the revenue aircraft operated, the Company charges an administrative fee and passes through to its Customer certain other cost components of its operations without markup. The cost of fuel, flight crews, landing fees, outside maintenance, parts and certain other direct operating costs are included in operating expenses and billed to the Customer as cargo and maintenance revenue, at cost.
 
    Separate agreements cover the four types of aircraft operated by MAC and CSA for their Customer—Cessna Caravan, ATR-42/72, Fokker F-27, and Short Brothers SD3-30. Cessna Caravan, ATR-42/72 and Fokker F-27 aircraft (a total of 91 aircraft at December 31, 2005) are owned by and dry-leased from the Customer, and the Short Brothers SD3-30 aircraft (two aircraft at December 31, 2005) are owned by the Company.

The SD3-30’s are operated periodically under wet-lease arrangements with the Customer. Pursuant to such agreements, the Customer determines the type of aircraft and schedule of routes to be flown by MAC and CSA, with all other operational decisions made by the Company.

Agreements are renewable annually and may be terminated by the Customer at any time upon 15 to 30 days’ notice. The Company believes that the short term and other provisions of its agreements with the Customer are standard within the air freight contract delivery service industry. The Company is not contractually precluded from providing such services to other firms, and has done so in the past. Loss of its contracts with the Customer would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

MAC and CSA’s revenues contributed approximately $32,469,000 and $28,670,000 to the Company’s revenues for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, a current year increase of approximately 13.3%. The increase in revenues was primarily related to increased direct operating costs associated with flight and maintenance services, and increased administrative fees. The increases were due to continued placement of ATR aircraft into revenue service and acquisition of aircraft parts which was primarily associated with the transition to ATR aircraft.
    
    Global, which provides the remainder of the Company’s revenue, manufactures, services and supports aviation ground support and specialized military and industrial equipment on a worldwide basis. Global’s revenue contributed approximately $26,298,000 and $21,116,000 to the Company’s revenues for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The 24.5% increase in revenues was primarily related to the increased number of deicing units sold during the current period.
 
    On February 28, 2005, a 135-foot fixed-stand deicing boom sold by Global to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania airport and maintained by Global collapsed on an Airbus 330 aircraft operated by US Airways. Immediately following this incident, the remaining eleven fixed stand deicing booms sold by Global and installed at the Philadelphia airport were placed out of service pending investigation of their structural soundness. These booms include 114-foot smaller deicing booms, as well as additional 135-foot extended deicing booms. All of these booms were designed, fabricated and installed by parties other than Global and are the only booms of this model that have been sold by Global.
 
    In late June 2005, after an independent structural engineering firm’s investigation identified specific design flaws and structural defects in the remaining 11 booms and Global’s subcontractor declined to participate in efforts to return the remaining 11 booms to service, Global agreed with the City of Philadelphia to effect specific repairs to the remaining 11 booms. The agreement establishes time schedules for the completion of repairs to the booms, with the booms to be returned to service during the Company’s second and third quarters. Under this agreement, Global agreed to effect these repairs at its expense and has reserved its rights to recover these expenses from any third party ultimately determined to be responsible for defects and flaws in these booms. The agreement provides that if Global performs its obligations under the agreement, the City will not pursue any legal remedies against Global for the identified design flaws and structural defects with respect to these 11 booms. However, the City retains its rights with respect to any cause of action arising from the collapse of the boom in February 2005.
 
    During the nine and three-month periods ended December 31, 2005, Global, respectively, incurred approximately $905,000 and $117,000 in connection with its efforts to have the booms returned to service which amounts are included in Global's operating expenses for the periods ended December 31, 2005. The repair costs, net of taxes (at an effective tax rate of 39.5%), reduced net earnings and earnings per share by $548,000 ($0.21 per share) and $71,000 ($0.03 per share), respectively.
 
    On August 4, 2005, Global commenced litigation against its subcontractor that designed, fabricated and warrantied the booms at the Philadelphia airport, seeking to recover costs incurred in connection with repairing the 11 booms and any damages arising from the collapse of the boom in February 2005. The Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to recover its repair expenses, or otherwise be successful, in this action.
 
Outlook
 
The Company’s current forecast for fiscal 2006 assumes that, due to higher fuel cost and the continuation of operating losses in the commercial passenger airline industry over the past several years, the commercial aviation industry will grow at a rate that is substantially less than the rest of the economy. Increased military and Homeland Security budgets, pending funding approvals, and increased international sales may continue to help offset the expected lower than normal order levels from Global’s commercial airline customers. Company management currently believes that its air cargo customer has completed the current phase of its aircraft fleet modernization program for fiscal 2006. Future terrorist attacks, competition or inflation may cause delays or termination of certain pending or projected future projects. Given uncertainties associated with the above factors, the Company continues to operate in a highly unpredictable environment.
  
13  

Based on the current general economic and industry outlook and cost cutting measures implemented over the past two fiscal years, the Company believes its existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, and funds available from the recently renewed
credit facility will be adequate to meet its current and anticipated working capital requirements throughout fiscal 2006. If these sources are inadequate or become unavailable, then the Company may pursue additional funds through the financing of unencumbered assets, although there is no assurance these additional funds will be sufficient.
    
    Actual results for fiscal 2006 will depend upon a number of factors beyond the Company’s control, including, in part, cost of litigation to pursue the recovery of cost related to the repair of booms at Philadelphia airport from third parties, including Global’s subcontractor. Actual results will also depend on future increases in the rate of inflation, including fuel prices, the timing, speed and magnitude of the economic recovery, military funding of pending future equipment orders, future levels of commercial aviation capital spending and revenues from international sales, increased competition, future terrorists acts and winter weather patterns.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based on its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates these estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, reserves for excess or obsolete inventory, warranty reserves, retirement benefit obligation accruals, deferred taxes, asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization, and accounting for income taxes, contingencies and litigation. Application of these estimates and assumptions requires the exercise of judgment as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. Please refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005 for further information regarding our critical accounting policies and estimates.

Following is a discussion of critical accounting policies and related management estimates and assumptions.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. An allowance for doubtful accounts receivable in the amount of $278,000 and $267,000, respectively, as of December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005, was established based on management’s estimates of the collectability of accounts receivable. The required allowance is determined using information such as customer credit history, industry information, credit reports, customer financial condition and the collectability of outstanding accounts receivables associated with a business segment discontinued in 2003. The estimates can be affected by changes in the financial strength of the aviation industry, customer credit issues or general economic conditions. Although the accounts receivable balance is substantially higher, the additional receivables are from credit worthy customers and are deemed to be collectable.

Inventories. The Company’s parts inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Reserves for excess and obsolete inventories in the amount of $451,000 and $441,000, respectively, as of December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005, are based on assessment of the marketability of slow-moving and obsolete inventories. Estimates are subject to volatility and can be affected by reduced equipment utilization, existing supplies of used inventory available for sale, the retirement of aircraft or ground equipment and changes in the financial strength of the aviation industry.

The Company warranties its ground equipment products for up to a three-year period from date of sale. Product warranty reserves are recorded at time of sale based on the historical average warranty cost and are adjusted as actual warranty cost becomes known.

Warranty Reserve. Increases to warranty reserves are primarily due to increased units sales and lower claims during the current periods. Product warranty reserve activity during the three and nine-months ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31, 
December 31,
     
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
                           
Beginning balance
 
$
210,000
 
$
156,000
 
$
198,000
 
$
147,000
 
Additions to reserve
   
128,000
   
71,000
   
183,000
   
136,000
 
Use of reserve
   
(4,000
)
 
(60,000
)
 
(47,000
)
 
(116,000
)
Ending balance
 
$
334,000
 
$
167,000
 
$
334,000
 
$
167,000
 

14

Deferred Taxes. Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance in the amount of $85,000, as of December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005 reflect the likelihood of the recoverability of these assets. Company judgment of the recoverability of these assets is based primarily on estimates of current and expected future earnings and tax planning.

Retirement Benefits Obligation. The Company currently determines the value of retirement benefits assets and liabilities on an actuarial basis using a 5.5% discount rate. Long-term deferred retirement benefit obligations amounted to $696,000 and $1,485,000, respectively, as of December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005. The reduction was primarily attributed to a $695,000 lump-sum retirement payment to the company’s Chief Financial officer, who will retire in June 2006, and $126,000 retirement obligation reduction related to an amendment to the CFO’s employment agreement made in December 2005. Values are affected by current independent indices, which estimate the expected return on insurance policies and the discount rates used. Changes in the discount rate used will affect the amount of pension liability as well as pension gain or loss recognized in other comprehensive income.
 
    On December 29, 2005, Air T, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Amended Employment Agreement”) with John J. Gioffre, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The Amended Employment Agreement amends and restates the existing Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1996 (the “Former Employment Agreement”), between the Company, these subsidiaries and Mr. Gioffre. The Amended Employment Agreement provides the terms and conditions for Mr. Gioffre’s continued employment with the Company until his planned retirement on June 30, 2006. In connection with the execution of the Amended Employment Agreement, the Company paid to Mr. Gioffre the above lump sum amount of retirement benefits he would have been entitled to receive under the Former Employment Agreement had he retired on September 1, 2005, plus interest from that date at a rate equal to the Company’s cost of funds. The Company had previously accrued $821,000 in retirement benefit expense, and accordingly, the adjustment of $126,000 increased the Company’s results from operations for the quarterly period ending December 31, 2005. The Amended Employment Agreement terminates the Company’s obligations to pay any further retirement or death benefits to Mr. Gioffre.

Pursuant to the Amended Employment Agreement, Mr. Gioffre is to be employed in his present capacities until June 30, 2006 with changes to his annual salary rate and bonus compensation.

Revenue Recognition. Cargo revenue is recognized upon completion of contract terms and maintenance revenue is recognized when the service has been performed. Revenue from product sales is recognized when contract terms are completed and title has passed to customers.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets. The Company assesses long-lived assets used in operations for impairment when events and circumstances indicate the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their carrying amount. In the event it is determined that the carrying values of long-lived assets are in excess of the fair value of those assets, the Company then will write-down the value of the assets to fair value.

Stock Based Compensation. As discussed in Note 5. Recent Accounting Pronouncements, SFAS No. 123(R) must be adopted no later than the beginning of the first annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. Early adoption will be permitted in periods in which financial statements have not yet been issued. We expect to adopt SFAS No. 123(R) on April 1, 2006, using the modified prospective method allowed by the statement.

As permitted by SFAS No. 123, the Company currently accounts for share-based payments to employees using Opinion 25’s intrinsic value method and, as such, generally recognizes no compensation cost for employee stock options. The impact of adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) cannot be predicted at this time because it will depend on levels of share-based payments granted in the future. However, had we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) in prior periods, the impact of that standard would not have been material.


Seasonality

Global’s business has historically been highly seasonal. Due to the nature of its product line, the bulk of Global’s revenues and earnings have typically occurred during the second and third fiscal quarters in anticipation of the winter season, and comparatively little has occurred during the first and fourth fiscal quarters. The Company has continued its efforts to reduce Global’s seasonal fluctuation in revenues and earnings by broadening its product line to increase revenues and earnings in the first and fourth fiscal quarters. In June 1999, Global was awarded a four-year contract to supply deicing equipment to the United States Air Force (USAF), and in June 2003 Global was awarded a three-year extension on the contract. The Company believes the USAF contract contributed to management’s plan to reduce seasonal fluctuation in revenues during the nine-months ended December 31, 2005. The remainder of the Company’s business is not materially seasonal.
15


Results of Operations

Consolidated revenue increased $8,981,000 (18.0%) to $58,767,000 and $5,081,000 (27.7%) to $23,415,000, respectively, for the nine and three-month periods ended December 31, 2005 compared to the equivalent 2004 periods. The nine and three-month current period net increases in revenues primarily resulted from, respective, $5,181,000 and $4,597,000 increases in ground equipment revenues related to increases, in the number of domestic and international commercial deicer units sold, and, respective, $3,800,000 and $484,000 increases in air cargo revenues primarily related to increased levels of direct operating costs, passed through to the Company’s Customer at cost, as detailed above in Overview and from increased administrative fees associated with ATR aircraft entering revenue service.

Operating expenses increased $9,478,000 (20.1%) to $56,706,000 for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2005 and $4,707,000 (26.8%) to $22,265,000 for the three-month period ended December 31, 2005 compared to their equivalent 2004 periods. The change in operating expenses for the nine-month period consisted of the following: cost of flight operations increased $1,907,000 (15.7%) primarily as a result of increased costs associated with fuel, pilot staffing and travel and landing fees, due to higher oil prices and customer flight schedule changes, which were passed on to the customer without markup; maintenance expense increased $1,654,000 (14.0%) primarily as a result of increases in the volume of aircraft parts purchased for ATR aircraft and cost of outside maintenance, partially offset by lower maintenance wages and contract services, related to the reduced level of customer fleet modernization services provided; ground equipment operating expenses increased $5,202,000 (31.4%), as a result of increased cost of parts, labor and overhead related to the increased number of deicing units sold and  $736,000 in current period repair costs for the deicing booms located at the Philadelphia airport, as discussed in Overview above; depreciation and amortization increased $27,000 (5.7%) as a result of purchases of capital assets; and general and administrative expense increased $688,000 (11.1%) primarily as a result of increased cost of staffing, wages and benefits and staff expense, which, in part, includes $169,000 in efforts to restore the Philadelphia deicing equipment to service, as described above, which increases were partially offset by the retirement settlement gain discussed above.

 
The change in operating expenses for the three-month periods, respectively, ended December 31, 2005 consisted of the following: cost of flight operations increased $892,000 (21.3%), primarily as a result of increased direct operating cost associated with route schedule changes which increased the cost of fuel, pilot staffing and travel and airport fees; maintenance expense decreased $462,000 (10.3%) primarily as a result of decreased cost of parts and inside maintenance cost, partially offset by higher travel expense and outside maintenance cost; ground equipment increased $4,034,000 (61.0%), as a result of cost of parts, labor and overhead associated with increased Global sales and $117,000 in boom repair cost payable to third parties; and general and administrative expense increased $239,000 (11.4%) primarily as a result of increased salaries and related benefits  and staff expense, offset by decreased stockholder expense, professional fees and internal boom repair cost.

The current nine-month period’s decreased operating income, ($497,000) (19.4%), was adversely affected by the $905,000 in costs incurred in relation to repair of fixed-stand
deicing equipment sold by the ground equipment subsidiary, see Overview above, partially offset by increased global deicer unit sales and increased administrative fee income in the air cargo segment.

The current three-month period’s increased operating income, $374,000 (48.3%), primarily reflects the above mentioned increased deicer sales and administrative fees and settlement gain on retirement accrual booked in the quarter ended December 31, 2005, partially offset by $117,000 in boom repair costs.
 
 
Net non-operating expense, increased $24,000 for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2005 as a result of an increase of earnings on marketable securities, partly offset by an increase in interest expense due to higher levels of borrowing.

The provision for income taxes decreased $181,000 and increased $153,000 for the respective nine and three-month periods ended December 31, 2005, compared to their respective 2004 periods, primarily due to decreased current period nine-month pretax earnings and increased current period three-month pretax earnings. The effective income tax rate for nine and three-month periods ended December 31, 2005 was 39.6% and 39.0%, respectively.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2005, the Company's working capital amounted to $14,803,000, an increase of $4,254,000 compared to March 31, 2005. The net increase primarily resulted from an increase in inventories, accounts receivable and prepaid expense, partly offset by a decrease in cash and equivalents and income taxes receivable.
 
In January 2006, the Company amended the terms of its $7,000,000 credit line to increase its line of credit limit to $8,000,000 through April 30, 2006 at which time the line limit would step-down to $7,000,000 to maturity. In August 2005, the Company amended the terms of its $7,000,000 secured long-term revolving credit line and extended its expiration date to August 31, 2007. The revolving credit line contains customary events of default, a subjective acceleration clause and restrictive covenants that, among other matters, require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios. There is no requirement for the Company to maintain a lock-box arrangement under this agreement. As of December 31, 2005, the Company was in compliance with all of the restrictive covenants. The amount of credit available to the Company under the agreement at any given time is determined by an availability calculation, based on the eligible borrowing base, as defined in the credit agreement, which includes the Company’s outstanding receivables, inventories and equipment, with certain exclusions. At December 31, 2005, $2,337,000 was available under the terms of the credit facility. The credit facility is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

Amounts advanced under the credit facility bear interest at the 30-day “LIBOR” rate plus 137 basis points. The LIBOR rate at December 31, 2005 was 4.39%. At December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005, the amounts outstanding against the line were $4,663,000 and $239,000, respectively.

In March 2004, the Company utilized its revolving credit line to acquire a corporate aircraft for $975,000. In April 2004, the Company refinanced the aircraft under a secured 4.35% fixed rate five-year term loan, based on a ten-year amortization with a balloon payment at the end of the fifth year.

The Company assumes various financial obligations and commitments in the normal course of its operations and financing activities. Financial obligations are considered to represent known future cash payments that the Company is required to make under existing contractual arrangements such as debt and lease agreements. A table representing the scheduled maturities of the Company’s contractual obligations as of March 31, 2005 was included under the heading “Contractual Obligations” on page 14 of the Company’s 2005 Annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 17, 2005. There were no significant changes from the table referenced above during the quarter ended December 31, 2005.

The Company has not currently, nor in the past, engaged in the use of structured finance arrangements, known as off-balance sheet financing transactions, with unconsolidated entities or other persons.

The respective nine-month periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 resulted in the following changes in cash flow: operating activities used $4,714,000 and provided $232,000 in 2005 and 2004, respectively, investing activities used $284,000 and $310,000 in 2005 and 2004, respectively, and financing activities provided $3,692,000 and $989,000 in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Net cash decreased $1,306,000 and increased $911,000 during the nine months ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Cash used in operating activities was $4,946,000 more for the nine-months ended December 31, 2005 compared to the similar 2004 period, principally due to an increase in accounts receivables in the current period and a decrease in net periodic pension cost due to the execution of a December 29, 2005 Amended Employment Agreement, discussed in Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates above.

  Cash used in investing activities for the nine-months ended December 31, 2005 was approximately $26,000 less than the comparable period in 2004 due to decreased current period capital expenditures offset by proceeds from the sale of fixed assets in the 2004 period.

Cash provided by financing activities was $2,703,000 more in the 2005 nine-month period than in the corresponding 2004 period primarily due to an increase in the current period borrowings on the Company’s line of credit partially offset by prior period aircraft financing.

There are currently no commitments for significant capital expenditures. The Company’s Board of Directors on August 7, 1998 adopted the policy to pay an annual cash dividend, based on profitability and other factors, in the first quarter of each fiscal year, in an amount to be determined by the Board. The Company paid a $0.25 per share cash dividend in June 2005.
17

 
Derivative Financial Instruments

As required by SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, the Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and measures those instruments at fair value.

The Company is exposed to market risk, such as changes in interest rates. To manage the volatility relating to interest rate risk, the Company may enter into interest rate hedging arrangements from time to time.
 
On October 30, 2003, the Company terminated an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $2,400,000, entered into in May 2001, for $97,500, the fair-market-value termination fee was ratably amortized into interest expense through the, then current, bank credit line termination date of August 31, 2005.

The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. As of December 31, 2005 the Company had no derivative financial instruments outstanding. The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates on certain portions of its line of credit, which bears interest based on the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 137 basis points. If the LIBOR interest rate had been increased by one percentage point, based on the balance of the line of credit at December 31, 2005, annual interest expense would have increased by approximately $47,000.


Deferred Retirement Obligation

Contractual death benefits for the Company’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer who passed away on April 18, 1997 are payable by the Company in the amount of $75,000 per year for 10 years from the date of his death. As of December 31, 2005, $64,000 has been reflected as a current liability and $61,000 has been reflected as a long-term liability associated with this death benefit.
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Impact of Inflation

If the cost of fuel or interest rates continue to rise, the Company believes the impact of inflation and changing prices on its revenues and net earnings could have a material effect on its manufacturing operations if the Company cannot increase prices to pass the additional costs on to its customers. Although the Company’s air cargo business can pass through the major cost components of its operations, including fuel, without markup, under its current contract terms, higher rates of inflation could affect our customer’s current business plans.

 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are included in Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.


Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this report. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and that management will be timely alerted to material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Commission.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during or subsequent to the third quarter of fiscal 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

It should be noted that while the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, believe that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance, they do not expect that the disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within
the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

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PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Global and one of its former employees were named as defendants in a lawsuit commenced in March 2002 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Catalyst & Chemical Services, et al. vs Global Ground Support, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:02CV00388.  The plaintiffs claimed to have developed a novel method of aircraft de/ant-icing, and alleged that the system was the subject of trade secrets and a patent.  The plaintiffs alleged that Global and its former employee misappropriated the trade secrets, breached a confidentiality agreement, and infringed the patent.  Global asserted counterclaims against the plaintiffs alleging defamation. In May 2004, Global moved for summary judgment on all claims against it and its former employee, and the plaintiffs moved for summary judgment on the patent infringement claim. On December 14, 2004, the Court granted Global's summary judgment motion as to the patent infringement claim and denied the plaintiffs' summary judgment motions entirely. In May 2005, a jury trial was held with respect to the plaintiffs' remaining claims and Global's counterclaims. On May 31, 2005, the jury returned a verdict for Global and its former employee with respect to all of the plaintiffs' claims submitted for trial and for the plaintiffs with respect to Global's counterclaims. The plaintiffs have appealed the jury's verdict and the court's summary judgment rulings.  Global intends to continue to vigorously defend this matter.

On February 28, 2005, a 135-foot fixed-stand deicing boom sold by Global to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania airport and maintained by Global collapsed on an Airbus 330 aircraft operated by US Airways. Immediately following this incident, all 12 of the fixed stand deicing booms sold by Global and installed at the Philadelphia airport were placed out of service pending investigation of their structural soundness. These booms include 114-foot smaller deicing booms, as well as additional 135-foot extended deicing booms. All of these booms were designed, fabricated and installed by parties other than Global and are the only booms of this model that have been sold by Global.

 
In late June 2005, after an independent structural engineering firm’s investigation identified specific design flaws and structural defects in the remaining 11 booms and Global’s subcontractor declined to participate in efforts to return the remaining 11 booms to service, Global agreed with the City of Philadelphia (the City) to effect specific repairs to the remaining 11 booms. The agreement establishes time schedules for the completion of repairs to the booms, with the booms to be returned to service during the Company’s second and third quarters. Under this agreement, Global agreed to effect these repairs at its expense and has reserved its rights to recover these expenses from any third party ultimately determined to be responsible for defects and flaws in these booms. The agreement provides that if Global performs its obligations under the agreement, the City will not pursue any legal remedies against Global for the identified design flaws and structural defects with respect to these 11 booms. However, the City retains its rights with respect to any cause of action arising from the collapse of the boom in February 2005.

On October 14, 2005, pursuant to the agreement with the City, Global completed the repair, installation and recertification of ten of the deicing booms. Repairs had been completed on the eleventh boom, which was then damaged in transit to the Philadelphia airport by an independent carrier. Further repair work on that boom is being undertaken at the carrier’s expense.
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On August 4, 2005, Global commenced litigation in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania against Glazer Enterprises, Inc. t/a Elliott Equipment Company, Global’s subcontractor that designed, fabricated and warrantied the booms at the Philadelphia airport, seeking to recover costs incurred in connection with repairing the 11 booms and any damages arising from the collapse of the boom in February 2005. The Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to recover its repair expenses, or otherwise be successful, in this action.
 
The Company is currently involved in certain personal injury and environmental matters, which involve pending or threatened lawsuits and include personal injury litigation commenced by the operator of the boom that collapsed in Philadelphia. Management believes the results of these pending or threatened lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

 
Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits

No.  Description

3.1  
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2001

3.2  
By-laws of the Company, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996

4.1  
Specimen Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994

10.1  
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of December 29, 2005, between Air T, Inc., Mountain Air Cargo, Inc., CSA, Inc. MAC Aviation Services, LLC and John J. Gioffre, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 4, 2006


31.1  
Certification of Walter Clark

31.2  
Certification of John J. Gioffre

32.1  
Section 1350 Certification

__________________
 







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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

AIR T, INC.

By:  /s/ Walter Clark    
Walter Clark, Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)


Date: February 9, 2006


By:  /s/ John J. Gioffre   
John J. Gioffre, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Date: February 9, 2006

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AIR T, INC.
EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number Document

 
31.1 Certification of Walter Clark
31.2 Certification of John Gioffre
32.1 Section 1350 certification
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