LNT Aviation in Leeds has acquired a Eurocopter AS365. Due for delivery in August after a VIP refit it will be hangared next to star football striker Michael Owen's AS365N-2.

Damian Roberts, chief pilot of LNT Aviation, said that the company had developed a market through chartering its current Twin Squirrel F1. But the AS365 would allow LNT Aviation to take more passengers on longer journeys.

The Twin Squirrel allowed charters for four or five passengers but the replacement AS365 would take eight.

He added: "We can take eight golfers and their equipment. Dublin is only an hour an ten minutes away. It increases our range and our service options."

The new helicopter was being shipped out from the United States. "It should be ready at the beginning of August," Roberts said.

Michael Owen, the England and Newcastle striker, aims to be one of the first English Premiership footballers to qualify as a pilot.

Owen, 26, reportedly has been employing a private pilot to ferry his family to and from games at Newcastle and around England.

Owen hopes to obtain his own licence within the next two years. The former Liverpool legend joined Newcastle for a record #17 million after a frustrating season with Real Madrid where he was a high-scoring substitute.

When he acquires his licence

he will join a group of celebrity pilots that include Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kurt Russell.