Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO / HKJK) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi
NBO/HKJK
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 02:00 local
- Active runway
- 06
- METAR wind
- 70° @ 13 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 06 - sunny side
- Sun
- 120° / -60°
Wind vector · +12 kt headwind
MVFR
Night
Sunrise in 4h 12m
NightWant a Telegram ping when HKJK flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Nairobi (NBO) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
MVFR70° @ 13 kt
19°C · 10+ km · 1022 hPa
BKN016
Sunrise in 4h 12m
Runway alerts for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
$3/mo
Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at NBO, scored from each spot's view bearing.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short final 06 - sunny side Runway 06 | SIDE LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-16:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 06 · Dep 06
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 54° | 13,507 ft | +12.5 kt | 3.6 kt | Both |
| 24 | 234° | 13,507 ft | -12.5 kt | 3.6 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Nairobi (HKJK)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.700 | Published |
| Approach | 122.300 | Published |
| Departure | 125.800 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.750 | Assigned |
| Delivery | 128.200 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 126.200 | Published |
Lens for the top pin: Sony FE 200-600mm, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. Sony FE 200-600mmUniden Bearcat BC125ATFlightAware Pro Stick
Open the ATC frequency pageFrequently asked questions about plane spotting at Nairobi (NBO/HKJK)
Which runway is active at Nairobi (NBO/HKJK) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 01:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 06. The METAR wind is 70° at 13 kt. 06 shows +12.5 kt headwind and 3.6 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Nairobi (NBO) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 104° azimuth and 25° elevation. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 77/100, 1234 m from runway 06, view bearing 24.8°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 255° and 33°. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 94/100 on a 83.2° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO/HKJK) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 1 of 1 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at HKJK spotting locations?
HKJK spotting locations sun direction: Short final 06 - sunny side (runway 06) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-16:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Nairobi (NBO)?
Short final 06 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 06 centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Nairobi (HKJK)?
Monitor Tower 118.7 MHz, Approach 122.3 MHz, ATIS 126.2 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 118.7 MHz.
How do I know when Nairobi (NBO) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 70° at 13 kt, so 06 remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/HKJK#runway-alerts