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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 March 17, 2003
                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported)

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                        DECRANE AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Delaware                      333-70365               34-1645569
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)


             2361 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 180, El Segundo, CA 90245
         (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)


                                 (310) 725-9123
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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                                 Not Applicable
      (Former address and telephone number of principal executive offices,
                         if changed since last report)


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Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

On March 17, 2003 DeCrane Aircraft issued a press release stating the
following:

          DECRANE AIRCRAFT TO SELL SPECIALTY AVIONICS GROUP TO ODYSSEY
                              INVESTMENT PARTNERS

El Segundo, CA, March 17, 2003 - DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc. ("DeCrane
Aircraft") today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its
Specialty Avionics Group to Odyssey Investment Partners LLC for $140 million in
cash. This divestiture is a major step by DeCrane to focus its resources on its
core competencies -- cabin management and systems integration for the
corporate, VIP and head-of-state aircraft market.

"DeCrane is pleased with this important step forward as we continue to increase
our focus on core competencies -- cabin management and systems integration for
corporate, VIP and head-of-state aircraft," said R. Jack DeCrane, Chief
Executive Officer of DeCrane Aircraft. "We believe that as the aerospace
industry recovers, the increased demand for our Cabin Management and Systems
Integration products and services will exceed that of other aerospace market
segments. We also believe that customers of our Specialty Avionics Group will
experience a seamless transition and will continue to be served well by the
Specialty Avionics Group and Odyssey Investment Partners. The Specialty
Avionics Group is one of the best in the industry and will be an excellent
addition to Odyssey's portfolio of companies."

Odyssey Investment Partners LLC, based in New York, is the manager of a $760
million private equity fund engaged in making investments primarily in
established middle-market companies in a variety of industries. Odyssey has a
long history of successful aerospace investments in companies such as
Aeronautic Development Corp., Tri-Star Aerospace Company and TransDigm Inc.

Bill Hopkins, a Managing Principal with Odyssey Investment Partners, said, "We
are pleased to partner with management in the purchase of the Specialty
Avionics Group, which is comprised of the market leading brands of Avtech,
Aerospace Display Systems and Tri-Star Electronics. Our customers should
continue to expect the highest levels of service, product quality and
innovation available."

Proceeds from the transaction will be used to pay down loans under DeCrane
Aircraft's senior credit facility. The transaction is expected to close within
30 to 45 days, subject to customary closing conditions, including financing and
the receipt of regulatory and other third-party approvals. Credit Suisse First
Boston LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to DeCrane Aircraft with
respect to the sale.

The Specialty Avionics Group consists of Avtech Corporation of Seattle, WA,
Aerospace Display Systems, LLC of Hatfield, PA, and Tri-Star Electronics
International, Inc. of El Segundo, CA. The group is a recognized leader in
niche aviation electronic components, specializing in assembling design,
engineering and manufacturing capabilities in several avionic categories,
including flight deck and cabin audio management systems, flight deck visual
display and communication systems including SELCAL, power and control devices,
specialty interconnect solutions, as well as a leading manufacturer of high
quality electrical contacts for military and aviation applications.

DeCrane Aircraft, through its two operating groups (Systems Integration and
Cabin Management) is a leading supplier of products and services, focusing on
the corporate, VIP and head-of-state aircraft market. DeCrane Aircraft
Holdings, Inc. is a portfolio company of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II,
L.P., a $3 billion fund dedicated to private equity and equity-related
investments and a part of CSFB Private Equity.

CSFB Private Equity, the global private equity arm of Credit Suisse First
Boston, is the largest private equity manager in the world, with more than $28
billion of assets under management. CSFB Private Equity is comprised of
investment funds that focus globally on leveraged buyouts and other private
equity investments, including




mezzanine, real estate and venture capital investments as well as primary and
secondary purchases of interests in private investment funds. CSFB Private
Equity maintains offices in New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Menlo Park,
Chicago, San Francisco, London, Tokyo and Buenos Aires.

Contacts:

Charlie Sipkins, Fleishman-Hillard, (212) 453-2160
on behalf of DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc.,

Colin Wheeler/James Fingeroth, Kekst & Company, (212) 521-4800
on behalf of Odyssey Investment Partners LLC


Note: Except for historical information contained herein, this document
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or
outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated or discussed herein.
Further, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values may
be volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the
Company's control. Important factors that the Company believes might cause such
differences are discussed in the cautionary statements accompanying the
forward-looking statements in the Company's reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In assessing forward-looking statements contained
herein, readers are urged to read carefully all cautionary statements contained
in those filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.


                                    DECRANE AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC.
                                       (Registrant)


Date:  March 17, 2003               By: /s/ RICHARD J. KAPLAN
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Richard J. Kaplan
                                        Title: Senior Vice President, Chief
                                               Financial Officer, Secretary and
                                               Treasurer



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