Bilbao Airport (BIO / LEBB) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Bilbao, Spain
Bilbao
BIO/LEBB
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 23:38 local
- Active runway
- 12 / 10
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 1 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 12 - sunny side
- Sun
- 326° / -55°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sun below the useful photo window
NightWant a Telegram ping when LEBB flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Bilbao (BIO) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFRVRB @ 1 kt
15°C · 10+ km · 1027 hPa
FEW010 SCT024 BKN035
Sun below the useful photo window
Runway alerts for Bilbao 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 BIO, 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 12 - sunny side Runway 12 | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00. Avoid 08:00-14:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
| Short final 10 - sunny side Runway 10 | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00. Avoid 08:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 12 / 10 · Dep 12 / 10
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 117° | 8,530 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 30 | 297° | 8,530 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 10 | 97° | 6,266 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 28 | 277° | 6,266 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Bilbao (LEBB)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.500 | Published |
| Approach | 120.700 | Published |
| Departure | 126.925 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.700 | Published |
| Delivery | 128.925 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 118.825 | 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 Bilbao (BIO/LEBB)
Which runway is active at Bilbao (BIO/LEBB) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 23:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 12+10. The METAR wind is variable at 1 kt. 12 is the long-runway pick because the wind is calm or variable. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Bilbao (BIO) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 3° elevation. Short final 10 - sunny side scores 70/100, 1234 m from runway 10, view bearing 67.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 228° and 20°. Short final 10 - sunny side scores 92/100 on a 67.7° 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 Bilbao Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Bilbao Airport (BIO/LEBB) 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 0 of 2 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 LEBB spotting locations?
LEBB spotting locations sun direction: Short final 12 - sunny side (runway 12) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00. Avoid 08:00-14:00 harsh backlit contrast. Short final 10 - sunny side (runway 10) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 17:00. Avoid 08:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Bilbao (BIO)?
Short final 12 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 12 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 Bilbao (LEBB)?
Monitor Tower 118.5 MHz, Ground 121.7 MHz, Approach 120.7 MHz, ATIS 118.825 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 118.5 MHz.
How do I know when Bilbao (BIO) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near variable at 1 kt, so 12 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/LEBB#runway-alerts