The base is home to a flight training squadron and the Portuguese Air Force Academy.

The school was originally located at Vila Nova da Rainha and was later transferred to Granja do Marquês on February 5, 1920.

Since its creation it has been home to the main training and instruction of the Portuguese Air Force's pilots and technicians, having been base to de Havilland Tiger Moth, North American T-6 Texan, Cessna T-37 Tweet, and other flight training aircraft.

The base later became home to the Basic Flight Training Group (Portuguese: Grupo de Instrução Básica de Pilotagem, GIBP), with Basic Flight Training Squadron No.

As of 19 October 2022, there are no regular commercial passenger flights at Sintra Air Base.