Sanya W Hotel Aviation Obstruction Lighting Project: AH-MI-B2(L) ICAO Type B Medium-Intensity LED Case Study
Published On: November 13, 2026
Project Overview
The Sanya W Hotel in Hainan, China, is a landmark coastal resort whose twin high-rise towers rise well above the surrounding skyline, directly beside the flight paths used by sightseeing helicopters and low-flying aircraft along the Sanya coastline. To protect these towers as air navigation obstacles, the project required a reliable, code-compliant obstruction lighting system capable of surviving a tropical marine environment all year round.
Anhang Technology supplied and supported the installation of AH-MI-B2(L) LED Medium-intensity Aviation Obstruction Lights on the top of the hotel towers, providing steady, dusk-to-dawn red marking that is visible through 360 degrees at the required photometric intensity.
Project Challenge
- High obstacle height: tower tops exceeding the 45-metre threshold, which under ICAO Annex 14 requires medium-intensity Type B or Type C lighting.
- Harsh coastal climate: year-round humidity of 70-95% RH, salt-laden air and typhoon-season wind loads, demanding a genuinely sealed IP66 luminaire with 240 km/h wind resistance.
- Energy and maintenance limits: rooftop access is expensive and restricted, so the lights had to combine very low average power draw with a maintenance interval measured in years, not months.
- Synchronised flashing: multiple units on separate towers had to flash in phase so that pilots perceive one coherent obstacle, not a confusing cluster of independent lights.
- Architectural sensitivity: a premium hospitality brand required compact, clean hardware that does not compromise the building facade.
Solution: AH-MI-B2(L) Medium-Intensity LED Light
The project team selected the AH-MI-B2(L), a red medium-intensity obstruction light built around a CREE ultra-high-intensity LED and a self-designed UV-protected polycarbonate reflector that converges the beam. Because the optics are efficient, the luminaire reaches its certified light intensity with a fraction of the power used by incandescent or halogen alternatives.
Each unit is a self-contained system: a built-in photocell switches the light on at dusk and off at dawn automatically, integrated surge and lightning protection guards the electronics against coastal storms, and an internal GPS module keeps every light on the towers flashing in perfect synchronisation without an external controller.
Key Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Light source | CREE high-intensity LED, red |
| Effective intensity | ≥ 2000 cd |
| Horizontal output / vertical divergence | 360° / 3° |
| Flash characteristics | 20-60 FPM Type B (factory setting 20 FPM); steady Type C |
| Operating voltage | DC 12 V, 36 V, 48 V or AC 110-240 V |
| Power consumption | 40 W instantaneous, ≤ 5 W average at 20 FPM |
| Surge protection | IEC61000-4-5 L-N ±3 kV, L-PE ±6 kV, N-PE ±6 kV |
| Body / base | UV-protected polycarbonate / powder-coated die-cast aluminium (bright yellow) |
| Dimensions and weight | 229 × 229 × 168 mm, 2.5 kg |
| Environmental rating | IP66, -55 °C to +55 °C, 10-95% RH, wind speed 240 km/h |
| Service life | LED > 100,000 hours; product life expectancy 10+ years |
Installation Details
The lights were mounted on the structural parapet and tower-top railings using the 190 × 190 mm, θ12 bolt pattern flange. Because each luminaire weighs only 2.5 kg and is factory-sealed, the rooftop installation was completed with standard hand tools and no on-site wiring of optical components.
Wiring was run to the existing 110-240 VAC rooftop supply, with a DC variant available for future solar conversion. A special vent under the base allows air to pass while blocking water ingress, preventing heat build-up and internal condensation in the humid Sanya climate. The bright yellow powder-coated base also gives maintenance crews high daytime visibility during inspection.
Results and Benefits
- Code compliance: the installed configuration satisfies ICAO Annex 14 Volume 1 (8th edition, 2018) Table 6.3 for Medium-Intensity Type B/C red obstacle lights, FAA L-864, and CAAC MH6012-2015 / MH 5001-2013.
- Energy savings: an average draw of 5 W or less per unit at 20 FPM reduced power demand by roughly 85% compared with conventional incandescent obstruction lights.
- Low maintenance: with LED life beyond 100,000 hours, the hotel avoids frequent rooftop lamp changes and the associated safety risk.
- Reliable visibility: GPS-synchronised flashing presents a single, unmistakable obstacle signature to pilots approaching along the coast, day after day.
- Weatherproof durability: IP66 sealing, 240 km/h wind rating and 6 kV surge protection keep the system operating through typhoon-season storms and salt-air exposure.
Conclusion
For the Sanya W Hotel, the AH-MI-B2(L) delivered a compact, low-power and fully compliant answer to a demanding coastal marking problem. The same platform is equally suited to high chimneys, telecom and broadcast towers, wind turbines, tower cranes and high poles marking obstacles between 45 and 105 metres, and it can be expanded with dry-contact alarm output, RS485 communication, NVG-compatible infrared LEDs, bird-deterrent spikes or a complete solar power system.
