Monday's search for MH 370 resumes: AMSA

CANBERRA - Monday's search and recovery operation in the Australian Search and Rescue Region for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is scheduled to commence about 9am AEDT this morning, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said in its latest update.

AMSA said some parts of the search area will experience low cloud and rain throughout the day. According to the arrangements from AMSA, Monday's search activities will involve a total of 10 aircraft.

They include one Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P3 Orion, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion, one Japanese P3 Orion, a Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream jet, a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Ilyushin IL-76, a Republic of Korea P3 Orion, a United States Navy P8 Poseidon, two Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Hercules and one civil jet acting as a communications relay.

The Chinese Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft is scheduled to depart about 9am AEDT. The US Navy P8 Poseidon and RNZAF P3 Orion are scheduled to depart about 11am AEDT. The Republic of Korea P3 Orion is scheduled to depart about 11.30am AEDT.

The civil jet acting as communications relay is due to depart about 12pm AEDT. A RAAF P3 Orion is scheduled to depart about 2pm AEDT. The two Malaysian C130 Hercules aircraft are scheduled to depart about 1pm AEDT. A RAAF P3 Orion is due to depart about 2pm AEDT.

And the Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream jet is due to depart about 2.30pm AEDT following by the Japanese P3 Orion at about 3pm AEDT.

In addition, a total of 10 ships have also been tasked to today ' s search. This includes HMAS Success and HMAS Toowoomba, seven Chinese ships and a merchant vessel.

AMSA also confirmed that the Australian Defence vessel Ocean Shield is scheduled to depart from Perth Monday. It has now been fitted with a black box detector and an autonomous underwater vehicle.