Can I reuse ActionScript 3 NetConnection?

this is probably a noob question, but since I'm new to Flash and AS3, here it goes ...

Is there any way to reuse AS3 NetConnection?

I am trying to create an AMFPHP class that handles a connection, so I can reuse this initial connection when I want to make an AMFPHP method call.

Here is my code so far,

package com.utils
{
    public class amfphp 
    {
        private var gateway:String = "http://localhost/amfphp/gateway.php";
        private var connection:NetConnection = new NetConnection;

        private function con(gate:String, con:NetConnection):void {
            //connect to the gateway file
            con.connect(gate);
            return con;
        }
    }
}

Thanx in advance!