Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD / LEMD) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Madrid, Spain
Madrid
MAD/LEMD
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 01:39 local
- Active runway
- 32L / 32R
- METAR wind
- 310° @ 6 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 32L - sunny side
- Sun
- 21° / -61°
Wind vector · +6 kt headwind
VFR
Night
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Best Madrid (MAD) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR310° @ 6 kt
10°C · 10+ km · 1024 hPa
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Runway alerts for Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
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Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at MAD, 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 32L - sunny side Runway 32L | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-13:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 32R - sunny side Runway 32R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-13:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 32L / 32R · Dep 32L / 32R
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18R | 181° | 14,271 ft | -3.8 kt | 4.7 kt | Standby |
| 36L | 2° | 14,271 ft | +3.7 kt | 4.7 kt | Standby |
| 14R | 144° | 13,084 ft | -5.8 kt | 1.5 kt | Standby |
| 32L | 324° | 13,084 ft | +5.8 kt | 1.5 kt | Both |
| 14L | 144° | 11,483 ft | -5.8 kt | 1.5 kt | Standby |
| 32R | 324° | 11,483 ft | +5.8 kt | 1.5 kt | Both |
| 18L | 181° | 11,483 ft | -3.8 kt | 4.7 kt | Standby |
| 36R | 1° | 11,483 ft | +3.8 kt | 4.7 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Madrid (LEMD)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.070 | Published |
| Tower | 118.150 | Published |
| Approach | 127.500 | Published |
| Departure | 124.800 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.850 | Published |
| Delivery | 130.075 | Published |
| ATIS | 118.250 | Published |
| ATIS | 130.850 | 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 Madrid (MAD/LEMD)
Which runway is active at Madrid (MAD/LEMD) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 01:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 32L+32R. The METAR wind is 310° at 6 kt. 32L shows +5.8 kt headwind and 1.5 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Madrid (MAD) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 3° elevation. Short final 32L - sunny side scores 95/100, 1233 m from runway 32L, view bearing 295.0°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 228° and 22°. Short final 32L - sunny side scores 85/100 on a 353.5° 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 Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD/LEMD) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 32L - sunny side, Short final 32R - sunny side. 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 LEMD spotting locations?
LEMD spotting locations sun direction: Short final 32L - sunny side (runway 32L) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-13:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 32R - sunny side (runway 32R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-13:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Madrid (MAD)?
Short final 32L - sunny side is 1233 m from the 32L 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 Madrid (LEMD)?
Monitor Tower 118.07 MHz, Ground 121.85 MHz, Approach 127.5 MHz, ATIS 118.25 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 118.07 MHz.
How do I know when Madrid (MAD) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 310° at 6 kt, so 32L 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/LEMD#runway-alerts