Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM / KBHM) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Birmingham, United States of America
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth
BHM/KBHM
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 17:31 local
- Active runway
- 06
- METAR wind
- 50° @ 3 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 06 - sunny side
- Sun
- 251° / 5°
Wind vector · +3 kt headwind
VFR
Sweet spot
Evening golden hour now, sunset in 30 min
Sweet spotWant a Telegram ping when KBHM flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR50° @ 3 kt
24°C · 10+ sm · 1024 hPa
SCT250
Evening golden hour now, sunset in 30 min
Runway alerts for Birmingham-Shuttlesworth 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 BHM, 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 | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 15:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-10:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 06 · Dep 06
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 55° | 12,007 ft | +3.0 kt | 0.3 kt | Both |
| 24 | 235° | 12,007 ft | -3.0 kt | 0.3 kt | Standby |
| 18 | 180° | 7,099 ft | -1.9 kt | 2.3 kt | Standby |
| 36 | 360° | 7,099 ft | +1.9 kt | 2.3 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (KBHM)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 119.900 | Published |
| Approach | 121.450 | Assigned |
| Departure | 125.500 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.700 | Published |
| Delivery | 125.675 | Published |
| ATIS | 119.400 | 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 Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM/KBHM)
Which runway is active at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM/KBHM) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 17:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 06. The METAR wind is 50° at 3 kt. 06 shows +3.0 kt headwind and 0.3 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 113° azimuth and 11° elevation. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 78/100, 1234 m from runway 06, view bearing 25.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 236° and 22°. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 91/100 on a 84.2° 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 Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM/KBHM) 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: Short final 06 - sunny side. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 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 KBHM spotting locations?
KBHM spotting locations sun direction: Short final 06 - sunny side (runway 06) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 15:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-10:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM)?
Short final 06 - sunny side is 1233 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 Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (KBHM)?
Monitor Tower 119.9 MHz, Ground 121.7 MHz, ATIS 119.4 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 119.9 MHz.
How do I know when Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 50° at 3 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/KBHM#runway-alerts