Geneva International Airport (GVA / LSGG) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva
GVA/LSGG
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 17:00 local
- Active runway
- 04
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 3 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 04 - sunny side
- Sun
- 247° / 4°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
VFR
Sweet spot
Evening golden hour now, sunset in 30 min
Sweet spotWant a Telegram ping when LSGG flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Geneva (GVA) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFRVRB @ 3 kt
14°C · 10+ km · 1019 hPa
CAVOK
Evening golden hour now, sunset in 30 min
Runway alerts for Geneva 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 GVA, 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 04 - sunny side Runway 04 | 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 04 · Dep 04
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | 46° | 12,795 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 22 | 226° | 12,795 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Geneva (LSGG)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.700 | Published |
| Approach | 120.300 | Published |
| Approach | 136.250 | Published |
| Departure | 119.525 | Published |
| Ground | 121.675 | Published |
| Delivery | 128.125 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 135.575 | 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 Geneva (GVA/LSGG)
Which runway is active at Geneva (GVA/LSGG) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 17:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 04. The METAR wind is variable at 3 kt. 04 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 Geneva (GVA) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 117° azimuth and 7° elevation. Short final 04 - sunny side scores 81/100, 1234 m from runway 04, view bearing 16.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 235° and 13°. Short final 04 - sunny side scores 92/100 on a 75.2° 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 Geneva International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Geneva International Airport (GVA/LSGG) 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 04 - 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 LSGG spotting locations?
LSGG spotting locations sun direction: Short final 04 - sunny side (runway 04) 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 Geneva (GVA)?
Short final 04 - sunny side is 1233 m from the 04 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 Geneva (LSGG)?
Monitor Tower 118.7 MHz, Ground 121.675 MHz, Approach 120.3 MHz, ATIS 135.575 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 118.7 MHz.
How do I know when Geneva (GVA) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near variable at 3 kt, so 04 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/LSGG#runway-alerts