The SPECIs weren't received by the controller, that was part of the problem. According to Airservicess procedures at the time, the SPECIs weren't automatically sent to the controller's console because Mildura had an AWIS. If aircraft wanted the information they had to either tune in to the AWIS (which wasn't working) or ask ATC, in which case the controller would retrieve the report from the system. As a result, the ATSB report says the ATC supervisors only became aware of the deteriorating conditions at about 2330Z, when the Mildura aerodrome reporting officer contacted them to ask why aircraft were diverting there when the weather was so bad.
The ATSB calculated that if the 2318Z SPECI had been disseminated immediately to the aircraft, they both would have had enough fuel to return to Adelaide and land with their fixed reserve intact.
Last edited by BuzzBox; 8th Jun 2016 at 16:01.