Thanks
dublinpilot.
You say
I think the only honest answer to your question is that outside the UK, then almost certainly, but inside the UK "it depends".
I suspect the "it depends" depends a lot on the airport that you are going to. If it's got full ATC, it's more likely SAR will be activated, but still no guarantee.
which comes to me as mild shock, I must say. That cosy feeling I got when I had filed my VFR Flight Plan across the Irish Sea, safe in the knowledge that "they will scramble the helicopter if I fail to arrive" seems grossly misplaced (and that ATC/instructor was right -- VFR flight plans are essentially a waste of time in the UK at least -- see my opening message in this thread)