Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)



Search and rescue observer program

Our SAR observer program trains SES volunteers to look for signs of people in distress from the air.

In Australia, we train SES volunteers to be air search observers. This means they are qualified to fly in search aircraft to look for signs of people in distress, both on land and in the water.

The training covers:

Training is primarily carried out with rotary-wing search aircraft but occasionally utilises fixed-wing aircraft also.

Last updated: 14 May 2025