Spotter

Sharjah International Airport (SHJ / OMSJ) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Sharjah

SHJ/OMSJ

Updated Wed 28 Oct, 03:32 local

Active runway
12

Wind vector · +3 kt headwind

METAR wind
100° @ 3 kt

VFR

Best spot
Short final 12 - sunny side

Night

Sun
86° / -39°

Sunrise in 2h 51m

NightWant a Telegram ping when OMSJ flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo

Best Sharjah (SHJ) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle

Live weather

VFR

100° @ 3 kt

25°C · 10+ km · 1014 hPa

CAVOK

Wed 28 Oct, 03:32 localAz 86° · El -39°Night

Sunrise in 2h 51m

+0h

Runway alerts for Sharjah International Airport

$3/mo

Get instant Telegram alerts when the active runway flips, TAF winds shift, or golden hour starts. One $3/mo subscription covers unlimited airports.

Instant activation via Stripe and @planespottingmapbot. Cancel anytime with /stop.

Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies

Lighting schedule

Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at SHJ, scored from each spot's view bearing.

Spotting LocationMorning (07:00-11:00)Midday (11:00-14:00)Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00)JetPhotos / Camera Note
Short final 12 - sunny side

Runway 12

BACKLIT / GLAREBACKLIT / GLARESIDE LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 16:00-17:00. Avoid 08:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast.
Open the full spotting guide

Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Sharjah (SHJ/OMSJ)

Which runway is active at Sharjah (SHJ/OMSJ) right now?

As of Wed 28 Oct, 03:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 12. The METAR wind is 100° at 3 kt. 12 shows +2.8 kt headwind and 1.1 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.

Where is the best place to plane spot at Sharjah (SHJ) in the morning vs. afternoon?

At 08:00 local the sun is at 116° azimuth and 20° elevation. Short final 12 - sunny side scores 69/100, 1234 m from runway 12, view bearing 151.2°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 244° and 21°. Short final 12 - sunny side scores 90/100 on a 92.7° 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 Sharjah International Airport?

The best time to plane spot at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ/OMSJ) 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 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 OMSJ spotting locations?

OMSJ spotting locations sun direction: Short final 12 - sunny side (runway 12) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 16:00-17:00. Avoid 08:00-13:00 harsh backlit contrast.

What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Sharjah (SHJ)?

Short final 12 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 12 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 Sharjah (OMSJ)?

Monitor Tower 118.6 MHz, Ground 121.875 MHz, Approach 124.675 MHz, ATIS 122.4 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 118.6 MHz.

How do I know when Sharjah (SHJ) switches active runways?

No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 100° at 3 kt, so 12 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/OMSJ#runway-alerts