Search for MH370 takes dramatic shift

The search for a missing Malaysia Airlines flight has resumed with weather conditions improving. Source: AAP

THE focus of the hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has completely shifted to a new northern zone in the Indian Ocean.

New radar data analysis has prompted authorities to shift the search 1100 kilometres to the northeast, following updated advice from the international investigation team in Malaysia.

The focus zone is now about 319,000 square km and some 1850km west of Perth.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) emergency response manager John Young said on Friday all planes and ships had been moved to the new zone, which was "now our best place to go".

"We have moved on from (previous) search areas," Mr Young told a press briefing in Canberra.

"The search we've had to date is what we had at the time. New information will emerge.

"I don't count the original work a waste of time."

He said the search area had been "refined and moved on" from earlier work.

"It's not a new theory."

But the search area could change again, Air Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Martin Dolan said.

Mr Young stressed that he would not use the term "debris field" in relation to the satellite objects previously identified, which "may or may not be objects".

Because the new search zone is closer to Perth, where planes are being flown from, spotters have longer time on the scene than before, he said.

Up until now, they only had one to two hours before having to return to RAAF air base Pearce.

"We're now doing much better than that," Mr Young said.

Weather conditions in the new search area will also be more favourable, he said.

The new area is shallower, with water depths ranging from 2000 to 4000 metres.

But there was still a long way to go yet in the massive search area, Mr Young said.

The search area is almost as large as Malaysia itself, which has a land mass of 328,000 square km.

The Chinese Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) patrol ship, Haixun 01, is already in the search area.

The Australian Navy's HMAS Success is expected to arrive in the search area late on Saturday night.

A US-towed pinger locator and Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle have arrived in Perth to assist with location and recovery of the black box.

Malaysia Airlines group chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said the Australian government had given immense support to the national carrier, from co-ordinating the search to offering an exemption of the visa application process for families of passengers and crew on board MH370.

"Malaysia Airlines will be making arrangements to take family members to Perth, should physical wreckage be found," he said.

"We are extremely grateful for such support.

"Whilst we understand that there will inevitably be speculation during this period, we do ask people to bear in mind the effect this has on the families of all those on board.

"Their anguish and distress increases with each passing day, with each fresh rumour, and with each false or misleading report."

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