Licence Types and applications

Licence Types and applications

The cost of all licences depends on your ability, all prices given below are based on 'minimum hour and first attempt passes

Private Ultralight Pilot (PUP) - The National Pilot Licence in Ghana:

 

This licence requires a minimum of 30 hours supervised flight training, including 10 hours solo and a qualifying cross country and passes in writen and practical assessements.  You will be requried to hold an aviation medical prior to first solo.

This is intended to offer a lower cost entry to learning to fly and provide an alternate career opportunity in light aviation that is more affordable for those in the subregion.  Based upong the growing LSA, UL and Microlight movements in other countries, Ghana has a growing PUP population.  Light aircraft of the type flown under this licence tend to be more affordable to own and operate.  Current limitations of this licence are : 2 seat aircraft of simple and robust construction with a Maximum Take Off Weight of 500kgs or less, for opreation within the territory of the Republic of Ghana.  Interestingly that does NOT mean that you cannot fly outside the territory of Ghana, just that permission are required.  This licence is the primary licence offered by WAASPS, and we are proud to be the leaders in light aviation, especially in this class of aircraft, in the country.  

Currently WAASPS is the ONLY centre in Ghana approved to offer this qualification.

With your PUP you can fly yourself for personal and business trips.  You may also gain ratings for 

Banner Towing

Aerial Dispersal

Humanitarian Aviation

Aerial Photo/Video

Flight Training (UIE - Ultralight Instructor Examiner)

Sea Plane flying 

and more...

A PUP can be used as a stepping stone to the futher licences, with up to 20 hours (in some countries more) counted towards a Ghana PPL and all solo hours/hour building in 3-axis conventional aircraft can count towards further licences (especially the FAA licences).

Based on prices at time of writing and assuming the optimum payment plans, you could obtain your PUP for as less than $7000.  We strongly recommend that you undertake a trial flight so that we can 'indicate' your 'likelihood' of completion in the minimum hours.   (trial flights start from $150)

 

Private Pilot Licence (PPL) : 

This licence requires a minimum of 40 hours supervised flight training, including 10 hours solo and a qualifying cross country and passes in writen and practical assessements.  You will be requried to hold an aviation medical prior to first solo.

This isthe more traditional entry point.  We do not offer this as an entry point, since the PUP, in our experience, offers a more rounded flying entry point, at a more affordable rate.  However, if you are definately going for a fast track commercial licence, and can afford the higher costs, you may choose this route.  Do note thay you will require at least 5 hours supervised flgiht conversion to the PUP from a PPL or higher licence. 

In Ghana you can expect to pay around $12,000 for your PPL from ab-initio (that is if you start with this licence)

Night VFR: This is a rating that allows you to fly at night under visual flight rules.  In Ghana this is not currently a legal flight type. Night VFR, should it be available, normally costs around $3000

Instrument Rating: This is a rating that can be added onto a PPL.  Those converting from a PUP may use some of the IR hours towards their conversion time if routing from the PUP.  The IR allows you to fly out of sight of the ground, using instruments only.  IR ratings usually cost around $4,000 to obtain.

Commercial Pilots Licence:  This requires at least 150 hours of flight experience prior to entry to the course.  That hour building can be on 3-axis conventional aircraft for the FAA licence.  WAASPS is working with a school in California for the PUP students with enough hours to a fast track, adapted FAA CPL programme, where most of the hours are flown in Ghana in relatively low cost aircraft such as the CH701, and the hours credited to the FAA licence.  You should budget around $40,000 to reach licence.  

The CPL allows you to fly 'certified aircraft' for hire or reward.  Be warned that the starting salaries are not great, and at times operators will actually ask you to 'pay to work' in order to fly with them.

Air Transport Pilot Licence ATPL: This requires many hours (1500) and you should budget around $100,000 to reach this licence.

The ATPL is required to fly airliners.