Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 530; Flight Crew Type 250
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
I filed a VFR flight plan through the Garmin Pilot app for a VFR flight from ZZZ1 direct ZZZ. I file IFR nearly every flight and had not filed VFR in some years; but with unsettled weather; I felt it helpful for ATC to have my information beforehand in the event weather dictated an IFR clearance. VFR time enroute was estimated at 22 minutes. After initial contact with Clearance at Class C ZZZ1 I activated the flight plan; then contacted local ATC for taxi; takeoff; and initial climb. The direct route filed goes through Class B airspace; and after handoff from ZZZ1 Departure to Approach; I was cleared through Class B; remain VFR. ATC required a slight deviation for traffic; which added a short time to the flight. A few minutes before reaching destination; radar service was terminated; and until that time I had been under ATC control the entire time the flight plan was open. I was able to land at destination without circling or delay. Taxi to the ramp took only a short time. Upon shutdown I noticed I had missed a phone call while still operating the aircraft. I returned that call; to FSS; to learn that my VFR flight plan was not closed soon enough; and Search and Rescue (SAR) had begun a search. When I questioned how they could have initiated such a search so quickly; even while I was still flying the plane in busy ATC-controlled airspace; I learned that since the privatization of FSS; SAR no longer waits 30 minutes past estimated time of arrival to initiate search procedures. The FSS representative assured that no further action would be taken. I am grateful to the FSS representative for helpfully and candidly educating me on how SAR now operates. But the early stages of flight operations and ATC-required deviations can easily result in a flight taking 15-20 minutes longer than planned. And I respectfully suggest that no longer having that 30-minute buffer; and perhaps having to contact FSS while operating in busy Class B airspace to cancel a VFR flight plan; unnecessarily adds to pilot workload and detracts from safety of flight.
GA Pilot reported his flight plan was not closed soon enough before search and rescue was initiated.