MD-11 CREW OPERATED THE ACFT PNEUMATIC SYS IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEL AFTER CONTRACT MECH TOLD THEM TO OPERATE IT IN AUTO. WHEN WING ANTI-ICE WAS NEEDED IT WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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PRIOR TO DEP FROM ZZZZ ON NOV/SUN/03; WE WERE ADVISED BY MAINT THAT AN AIR SYS WRITE-UP IN THE ACFT MAINT LOG (WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED MY CREW TO OPERATE THE AIR SYS IN THE MANUAL MODE) WAS ENTERED IN ERROR. THEY ADVISED US THAT THE MEL DID NOT ADDRESS THE TRUE PROB ON BOARD THE ACFT; AND THAT A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACFT PROB WOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH ME AND MY CREW IN PANC BY THE MECH WHO HAD INITIATED THE MEL IN QUESTION. UNTIL THEN; WE WERE ADVISED BY MAINT TO OPERATE THE ACFT WITH THE AIR SYS IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE (AGAINST THE PROCS CALLED FOR IN THE MEL) LIKE 'ALL THE OTHER CREWS HAD OPERATED.' MY CREW AND I PROCEEDED TO PANC; AND DURING THE DSCNT TO LNDG; WE ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS. AFTER SELECTING THE WING ANTI-ICE SYS ON; THE L WING ANTI-ICE DISAGREEMENT LIGHT CAME ON. WE SELECTED THE SYS OFF; AND TRIED TO AVOID ANY ICING CONDITIONS; AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG ON RWY 6R AT PANC. AFTER ENG SHUTDOWN; A WRITE-UP WAS MADE IN THE ACFT MAINT LOG DESCRIBING THE EVENT. THE MECH; IN DESCRIBING THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN; STATED THE AIR SYS WAS OPERATED IN AUTO AGAINST THE PROCS CALLED FOR IN THE MEL; AND SIGNED OFF THE WRITE-UP.