Sharing three Grob Tutor T1 trainer aircraft with the Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron it offers flight experiences to cadets of the Air Training Corps and the RAF elements of the Combined Cadet Force.

The AEF allows cadets to control the flight of an aircraft, under supervision of its commander, at heights above 1,000 feet (300 m).

[1] It currently flies three Grob Tutor T1 trainer aircraft, which it shares with Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron (NIUAS).

[2] Alternative cadet flying provision in the UK was provided via the Volunteer Gliding Squadron.

In March 2016 Julian Brazier, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Reserves, announced that the AEF and University Air Squadron programme would be expanded to make up the shortfall.