Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD / LEMD) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Madrid, Spain
Madrid
MAD/LEMD
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 23:12 local
- Active runway
- 36L / 36R
- METAR wind
- 40° @ 3 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 36L - sunny side
- Sun
- 312° / -54°
Wind vector · +2 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sun below the useful photo window
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Best Madrid (MAD) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR40° @ 3 kt
12°C · 10+ km · 1023 hPa
CAVOK
Sun below the useful photo window
Runway alerts for Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas 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 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 36L - sunny side Runway 36L | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 70-200mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 36R - sunny side Runway 36R | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 12:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 36L / 36R · Dep 36L / 36R
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18R | 181° | 14,271 ft | -2.3 kt | 1.9 kt | Standby |
| 36L | 2° | 14,271 ft | +2.4 kt | 1.8 kt | Both |
| 14R | 144° | 13,084 ft | -0.7 kt | 2.9 kt | Standby |
| 32L | 324° | 13,084 ft | +0.7 kt | 2.9 kt | Standby |
| 14L | 144° | 11,483 ft | -0.7 kt | 2.9 kt | Standby |
| 32R | 324° | 11,483 ft | +0.7 kt | 2.9 kt | Standby |
| 18L | 181° | 11,483 ft | -2.3 kt | 1.9 kt | Standby |
| 36R | 1° | 11,483 ft | +2.3 kt | 1.9 kt | Both |
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: 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. 70-200mm f/2.8 zoomUniden 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 Tue 27 Oct, 23:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 36L+36R. The METAR wind is 40° at 3 kt. 36L shows +2.4 kt headwind and 1.8 kt crosswind from the right. 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 36L - sunny side scores 90/100, 65 m from runway 14R, view bearing 332.8°, best as a morning spot with a 70-200mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 229° and 22°. Short final 36R - sunny side scores 92/100 on a 30.2° 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 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 36L - sunny side. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: Short final 36R - sunny side. 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 36L - sunny side (runway 36L) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 70-200mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 36R - sunny side (runway 36R) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 12:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Madrid (MAD)?
Short final 36L - sunny side is 65 m from the 14R centerline, so the lens is 70-200mm. 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 40° at 3 kt, so 36L 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