An Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) gave a trainee 50 hours of basic flying instruction on a simple trainer like the De Havilland Tiger Moth, Fleet Finch, or Fairchild Cornell over 8 weeks.Elementary schools were operated by civilian flying clubs under contract to the RCAF and most of the instructors were civilians. For example, No. 12 EFTS Goderich was run by the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Club and the County of Huron Flying Club.The next step for a pilot was the Service Flying Training School.

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No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School was formed on 18 June 1941 and was located at De Winton, Alberta. No. 31 EFTS was originally under the control of the RAF as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan within No. 4 Training Command. The Toronto Flying Club also known as the Malton Flying Training School Limited, took over operations from the RAF on 13 July 1942. No. 31 EFTS was to have been disbanded on 25 August 1944 but under Organization Order No. 407, dated 13 July 1944, the date was amended to 25 September 1944.