It was formed on 1 April 2004 and provides training for aircraft engineering officers and tradesmen across the three British armed forces.

The project was terminated in 2010 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, undertaken by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.

The school reports to the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) which, in turn, is part of the Royal Air Force's No.

[2] Based at HMS Sultan located at Gosport in Hampshire, the Royal Navy's Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School provides aeronautical engineering and survival equipment training to Royal Navy personnel.

[4] SAAE trains potential aeronautical Technicians, Supervisor, Artificers and Engineering Officers for frontline Joint Helicopter Command roles in order to sustain REME Aviation.