Richard Harpin has chosen an A355N Twin Squirrel to help him meet his demanding weekly 65-hour schedule as a husband, father and ceo of two companies. Harpin, who runs the U.K.-based emergency home repair company Homeserve, works a minimum 5.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. day, then likes to get home and spend quality time with his wife and three young children.

With Homeserve's U.S. business growing he is now looking at having a similar business efficiency model ready for 2008 but plans to employ a transatlantic jet instead of a helicopter.

The A355N is owned by Harpin Ltd, Richard Harpin's private company, and is on the AOC of Multiflight which is based at Leeds Bradford airport.

Charter clients include Newcastle United Football Club. "There is an arm's length commercial arrangement between Harpin Ltd. and Homeserve. When the A355N is not being used on Homeserve business it is chartered out by Multiflight," Harpin explains. "My home is in north Yorkshire and my head office is in Birmingham. So it makes sense to use it for my commute at my own personal expense."

He adds: "The helicopter means I can attend two meetings in different parts of the country and still usually make it home to spend time with my three children who are at the delightful ages of six, four and two. It is a schedule I like to keep to, although, given the nature of my job, it is not always possible."

Harpin, 42, previously had a Robinson 44 but wanted a twin IFR rated helicopter with a single cabin that could carry up to five passengers and accommodate two pilots. The Homeserve ceo, a pilot himself, has a policy of always flying with a full-time commercial pilot. That role is filled by Steve Beaumont, a former captain with Leeds Air Ambulance.

"Flying is something I always wanted to do," Harpin says. "I was born in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire where I lived in a cul-de-sac with a field at the bottom. My dad used to put me on his shoulders as we watched a helicopter land. I told my dad that I wanted one. It took me 36 years to get my first helicopter. I found out later that the helicopter that we watched at weekends belonged to Lord Hanson who used to visit his parents, who lived near us, on Sundays."

Harpin, who keeps fit by working out in the gym, plans a fractional ownership model for the jet which will be purchased by Harpin Ltd. Two fractional shares will be sold but it will fly on Multiflight's AOC for charter when not being used for Homeserve's U.S. business flights.

Homeserve has reported a 16 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for its half-year and expects further growth. Prospects for further deals in the U.S., where the company recently reached its first marketing agreement with a major utility, are said to be encouraging.

Harpin says: "Business has grown rapidly over the years. It's hard to imagine the early days of Homeserve when we were part of South Staffordshire Water. We provide emergency call out and insured repair solutions for some of the U.K.'s biggest companies and we've grown to provide those same services direct to customers too."