Agreed in December 1939, the program was known in Australia as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS).

[4] Over 52,000 personnel enlisted in the RAAF as aircrew and some 37,000 graduated from EATS schools.

[4] The Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) course lasted 12 weeks and gave recruits up to 75 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer like the Tiger Moth.

[3][4] The Service Flying Training School (SFTS) course ran for 24 weeks and provided advanced training for pilots on single- and multi-engined aircraft, closer in performance to the types they would eventually fly as operational or "service" pilots.

Prospective fighter pilots underwent air gunnery instruction at the SFTS, while bomber pilots undertook two weeks instruction at a Bombing and Gunnery School.