B777-200
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
[Station Maintenance personnel] requested to defer a faulty aft cargo compartment smoke detector (zone 1) using [per the appropriate MEL]. I authorized the deferral which has cargo loading restrictions for the aft compartment in zone 1 and 2. After the aircraft departed I received a call from load planning asking where zone 1 and 2 in the aft compartment was located. I provided the information from the MEL which stated that zone 1 and 2 in the aft pit extend from the aft wall of the cargo compartment to Station 1664 and requires the zones to remain empty.
A Maintenance Controller was concerned because after he authorized a deferral on a B777 that would restrict cargo from a portion of the cargo compartment; and the aircraft was already in-flight; station personnel called to ascertain the area that should have remained empty.