Norfolk International Airport (ORF / KORF) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Norfolk, United States of America
Norfolk
ORF/KORF
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 18:37 local
- Active runway
- 05
- METAR wind
- 60° @ 6 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 05 - sunny side
- Sun
- 258° / -5°
Wind vector · +6 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sun below the useful photo window
NightWant a Telegram ping when KORF flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Norfolk (ORF) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR60° @ 6 kt
17°C · 10+ sm · 1026 hPa
CLR
Sun below the useful photo window
Runway alerts for Norfolk 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 ORF, 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 05 - sunny side Runway 05 | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 05 · Dep 05
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 38° | 9,001 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Both |
| 23 | 218° | 9,001 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
| 14 | 128° | 4,876 ft | +2.2 kt | 5.6 kt | Standby |
| 32 | 308° | 4,876 ft | -2.2 kt | 5.6 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Norfolk (KORF)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 120.800 | Published |
| Approach | 118.900 | Published |
| Departure | 125.200 | Published |
| Ground | 121.900 | Published |
| Delivery | 118.500 | Published |
| ATIS | 127.150 | 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 Norfolk (ORF/KORF)
Which runway is active at Norfolk (ORF/KORF) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 18:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 05. The METAR wind is 60° at 6 kt. 05 shows +5.6 kt headwind and 2.2 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Norfolk (ORF) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 111° azimuth and 6° elevation. Short final 05 - sunny side scores 81/100, 1234 m from runway 05, view bearing 8.7°, best as a midday spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 232° and 23°. Short final 05 - sunny side scores 93/100 on a 67.2° 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 Norfolk International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Norfolk International Airport (ORF/KORF) 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 05 - 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 KORF spotting locations?
KORF spotting locations sun direction: Short final 05 - sunny side (runway 05) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Norfolk (ORF)?
Short final 05 - sunny side is 1233 m from the 05 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 Norfolk (KORF)?
Monitor Tower 120.8 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, Approach 118.9 MHz, ATIS 127.15 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 120.8 MHz.
How do I know when Norfolk (ORF) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 60° at 6 kt, so 05 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/KORF#runway-alerts