Could the huge time between crash to deploying SAR resources be avoided if they had left a company SAR letting someone know they would be out for an hour doing aeros (extremely unlikely to divert or change plans of the flight), and to start checking up on their safety within 10-20 minutes of the SAR expiring?
I'm guilty of setting useless SARTIMES (i.e. always at last light, thinking "I might divert or decide to go somewhere else, or walk into town for lunch without reception") but this accident has highlighted the importance of putting some serious thought behind when I set my SARTIME. I think company / responsible person is the way to go - not having to access clunky NAIPS, and not having that worry about sitting on the couch at home with your phone in your bag meanwhile the Challenger is gearing up.
p.s. QPS website said they identified location of the crash via phone triangulation. would hope it was an ELT though....