Aerospace defense contractor narrows loss in quarter

Phoenix International Ventures Inc. posted a loss for the third quarter, but the company's top executive says an Air Force contract has boosted its order backlog.

The publicly held company, an aerospace defense contractor headquartered at Mound House, said last week that it posted a loss of $25,814 on revenues of $746,137. This compares with a loss of $309,784 on revenues of $77,912 a year earlier.

Zahir Teja, president and chief executive officer of Phoenix International, said a $2.4 million contract the company landed from the

Air Force pushed the company's backlog to $5.6 million on Sept. 30 the

highest it's ever been.

The company will make engine trailers for the Air Force, and the original contract has an option for an additional $2.9 million in work.