Amman, Jordan
Live METAR wind (60° at 6 kt), predicted landing/departure runways (landing and departure 08L+08R), hourly sun-angle backlight map, and top photo spots for Queen Alia International Airport.
As of Mon 26 Oct, 21:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 08L+08R. The METAR wind is 60° at 6 kt. 08L shows +5.6 kt headwind and 2.2 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed. Updated Mon 26 Oct, 21:30.
| End | True hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08L | 81° | 12,008 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Landing + departure |
| 26R | 261° | 12,008 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
| 08R | 81° | 12,008 ft | +5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Landing + departure |
| 26L | 261° | 12,008 ft | -5.6 kt | 2.2 kt | Standby |
TAF at Tue 27 Oct, 00:00 shifts the wind to 290° at 8 kt, favoring 26R+26L in about 2.5 hours.
METAR OJAI 261800Z 06006KT 4000 DU SCT030 SCT035 22/09 Q1016 NOSIG
Live weather
IFR60° @ 6 kt
22°C · 2.5 SM · 1016 hPa
SCT030 SCT035
Front-lit sector
Backlight / glare cone
Sun ray · amber pins are landmarks
Green pins are calculated. Blue pins are OpenStreetMap parks and viewpoints.
Every pin below carries original geometry: meters to the nearest runway centerline, the compass bearing toward the aircraft, the morning or afternoon that puts the sun behind that view, and a lens picked only from that distance.
Short final 08L - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 66/100
Short final 08L - sunny side sits 1234 m from the 08L centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 110.6°. That view is front-lit in the afternoon (best 16:00–17:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.
Now: Night / Low light
Google Maps navigationShort final 08R - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 66/100
Short final 08R - sunny side sits 1234 m from the 08R centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 110.6°. That view is front-lit in the afternoon (best 16:00–17:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.
Now: Night / Low light
Google Maps navigationKnow a public fence, mound, or lens that works for a specific threshold? Send it in. Tips are reviewed before they show on the map.
Best time to plane spot at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM / OJAI): sun direction for every spotting location, scored from latitude 31.723, longitude 35.993, and the Asia/Amman clock plus each spot's view bearing. Morning is 07:00-11:00, midday is 11:00-14:00, and afternoon / golden hour is 14:00-18:00. CLEAN FRONT LIGHT means the sun sits behind the camera. BACKLIT / GLARE means the sun is in the lens. HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT is overhead midday light.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Short final 08L - sunny side Runway 08L | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Short final 08R - sunny side Runway 08R | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Zero-Delay Fence Audio
Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more, which is enough to miss the runway change and be on the wrong side of the field. Tower is 119.8 MHz. D-ATIS is 127.6 MHz. A handheld VHF airband scanner (Uniden Bearcat BC125AT) at the fence hears the call as it is made. At 1234 m from 08L, bring a 150-600mm lens.
Sony FE 200-600mm
Beyond 450 m you want 150-600mm. A 200-600mm zoom still frames a heavy jet on a long final.
Search this gearUniden Bearcat BC125AT
Handheld VHF airband scanner for tower and ATIS at the fence. Online streams run 30 seconds or more behind.
Search this gearFlightAware Pro Stick
USB ADS-B receiver if you want tail numbers on a laptop beside the photos.
Search this gearAs of Mon 26 Oct, 21:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 08L+08R. The METAR wind is 60° at 6 kt. 08L shows +5.6 kt headwind and 2.2 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 14° elevation. Short final 08L - sunny side scores 74/100, 1234 m from runway 08L, view bearing 52.1°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 239° and 21°. Short final 08L - sunny side scores 94/100 on a 52.1° 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.
The best time to plane spot at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM/OJAI) 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.
OJAI spotting locations sun direction: Short final 08L - sunny side (runway 08L) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast. Short final 08R - sunny side (runway 08R) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast.
Short final 08L - sunny side is 1234 m from the 08L 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.
Monitor Tower 119.8 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, Approach 128.9 MHz, ATIS 127.6 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 119.8 MHz.
TAF at Tue 27 Oct, 00:00 shifts the wind to 290° at 8 kt, favoring 26R+26L in about 2.5 hours. 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/OJAI#runway-alerts
Get a Telegram ping when Queen Alia International Airport changes landing or departure runway. One airport or a short list.