Safety in aviation doesn’t end with aircraft maintenance or weather checks — it also includes ensuring someone is looking out for you while you fly. That’s where SARTIME and SARWATCH come in. Both services allow Air Traffic Services (ATS) to monitor your flight progress and initiate search and rescue (SAR) action if you don’t arrive as planned.
What is SARWATCH?
SARWATCH (Search and Rescue Watch) is a monitoring service provided by ATS once you’ve lodged a flight plan or given departure details. While SARWATCH is active, ATS expects to hear from you at key points (position reports, arrivals, frequency changes, etc.).
- To cancel SARWATCH, clearly state:
- Your callsign
- Place of arrival (or point where monitoring is no longer needed)
- The words “Cancel SARWATCH”
ATS will read back your arrival point (if applicable) and confirm with “SARWATCH terminated.”
SARWATCH can also be cancelled when reporting a change to a CTAF, entering a circuit, or after landing.
What is SARTIME?
SARTIME (Search and Rescue Time) is a nominated “latest time of arrival.” If you haven’t cancelled it by that time, search and rescue procedures are triggered.
- To cancel SARTIME, pilots must contact ATS before the nominated time and state “Cancel SARTIME.”
- Preferred method: call CENSAR on 1800 814 931.
- Alternative: use ATS frequencies if phone contact isn’t possible.
- If operating with only one VHF radio, you must cancel before changing to CTAF or immediately after landing.
You can also nominate a SARTIME for departure if leaving from a location where communications may be unreliable. Just remember: one SARTIME can be active at a time.
Why RAAus and GA pilots should use these services
Both RAAus (Recreational Aviation Australia) and General Aviation pilots benefit from using SARTIME, Flight Following, and SARWATCH:
- Back-up safety net – If you don’t arrive or report as planned, SAR action begins quickly.
- Low workload, high reward – Lodging a SARTIME or accepting SARWATCH takes minimal effort but greatly improves survivability if something goes wrong.
- Works beyond controlled airspace – Even when flying from a remote or CTAF-only aerodrome, SARTIME ensures someone is expecting your arrival.
- Flight Following integration – Flight Following offers traffic advisories and SAR monitoring. If you drop off radar, ATS will already have your details.
- Professional habit – Embedding SARTIME and SARWATCH into your flying builds good airmanship and aligns with the same practices used in IFR and commercial ops.
- Peace of mind – Both you and your family/instructors know that someone will raise the alarm if you don’t check in.
Key Phrases to Remember
- “Cancel SARWATCH” — when terminating ATS monitoring.
- “Cancel SARTIME” — when confirming safe arrival within your nominated time.
Final Reminder
Whether you’re flying a Jabiru under RAAus or a Cessna in GA, using SARTIME and SARWATCH is a simple, powerful safety tool. Think of it as the invisible safety net behind every flight: if you don’t close the loop, help will be on its way.
Don’t leave it to chance — file, monitor, and cancel correctly.