Three planes have left Perth to continue the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane. Source: AAP
LONG-RANGE aircraft have joined the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, boosting confidence that suspected debris from MH370 will be found.
The large debris that was captured on satellite imagery on March 16 and publicly revealed on Thursday after being analysed is the most credible lead so far in the hunt for the missing plane.
While it is yet to be spotted by search aircraft, the HMAS Success is due to arrive at the search area on Saturday afternoon.
Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss told a large international media contingent at the Royal Australian Air Force Pearce air base north of Perth, from where the search is being coordinated, that the Australian effort has so far covered some 500,000 square kilometres.
Mr Truss said there had already been 15 sorties from the base, mainly Australian and New Zealand Orion aircraft.
Two longer range aircraft being deployed this weekend had intercontinental capability and would be able to search the area for five hours, compared to the 2-3 hours that military aircraft had available over the past two days, he said.
Aircraft from China will arrive at Pearce later on Saturday and join the search on Sunday, when Japanese aircraft will land at the base.
They will become involved on Monday.
Several vessels from around the world are also en route to assist.
No aircraft or vessels have been sent from Malaysia to help with the Indian Ocean search, but it has sent military personnel to Pearce to act as liaison officers.
"They have other search areas where they are concentrating their efforts, in their own waters and nearby," Mr Truss said.
He said Malaysian authorities were being contacted every few hours
The search area has been adjusted to account for considerable drift.
Weather conditions had much improved and would remain so for the foreseeable future, Mr Truss said.
"If there's something there to be found, I'm confident that this search effort will locate it," he said.
RAAF group captain Craig Heap was cautiously optimistic.
"There's a reasonable chance of finding something," Captain Heap said.
At a press conference in Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the lead as "tenuous", while Mr Truss conceded the debris may be a shipping container.
He said the search would continue as long as there was hope.
"It is important from the perspective of those who have families, whose whereabouts are unknown ... and indeed for the future of the aviation industry, that we do whatever we can to firstly confirm whether or not the sightings as a result of the satellite imagery are indeed connected in any way with the Malaysia Airlines flight," Mr Truss said.
"And then if so, what can be recovered so we can learn more about what has happened on this flight and learn any lessons that are necessary to make sure this doesn't happen again." Australian authorities would their utmost to keep the public informed, he said.
"These families .... they're anxious for information," Mr Truss said.
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