Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD / LEMD) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Madrid, Spain
Madrid
MAD/LEMD
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 02:35 local
- Active runway
- 18R / 18L
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 18R - sunny side
- Sun
- 45° / -55°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
VFR
Night
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Best Madrid (MAD) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFRVRB @ 2 kt
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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 18R - sunny side Runway 18R | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 09:00. Avoid 13:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
| Short final 18L - sunny side Runway 18L | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 09:00. Avoid 13:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 18R / 18L · Dep 18R / 18L
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18R | 181° | 14,271 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 36L | 2° | 14,271 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 14R | 144° | 13,084 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 32L | 324° | 13,084 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 14L | 144° | 11,483 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 32R | 324° | 11,483 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 18L | 181° | 11,483 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 36R | 1° | 11,483 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 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, 02:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 18R+18L. The METAR wind is variable at 2 kt. 18R 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 Madrid (MAD) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 3° elevation. Short final 18R - sunny side scores 81/100, 1234 m from runway 18R, view bearing 210.3°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 228° and 22°. Short final 18R - sunny side scores 76/100 on a 151.7° 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 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: 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 LEMD spotting locations?
LEMD spotting locations sun direction: Short final 18R - sunny side (runway 18R) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 09:00. Avoid 13:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. Short final 18L - sunny side (runway 18L) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 09:00. Avoid 13:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Madrid (MAD)?
Short final 18R - sunny side is 1234 m from the 18R 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 variable at 2 kt, so 18R 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