Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL / RPLL) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Manila (Pasay), Philippines
Manila
MNL/RPLL
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 08:34 local
- Active runway
- 06
- METAR wind
- 60° @ 5 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 06 - sunny side
- Sun
- 119° / 37°
Wind vector · +5 kt headwind
VFR
Side-lit
Golden hour in 8h 27m
Side-litWant a Telegram ping when RPLL flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Manila (MNL) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR60° @ 5 kt
30°C · 10+ km · 1011 hPa
FEW025
Golden hour in 8h 27m
Runway alerts for Ninoy Aquino 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 MNL, 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 06 - sunny side Runway 06 | SIDE LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP 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 06 · Dep 06
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 11:00 shifts the wind to 270° at 12 kt, favoring 24 in about 2.4 hours.
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 60° | 12,261 ft | +5.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 24 | 240° | 12,261 ft | -5.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 13 | 135° | 7,408 ft | +1.3 kt | 4.8 kt | Standby |
| 31 | 315° | 7,408 ft | -1.3 kt | 4.8 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Manila (RPLL)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.100 | Published |
| Approach | 120.050 | Assigned |
| Departure | 126.300 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.900 | Published |
| Delivery | 125.100 | Published |
| ATIS | 126.400 | 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 Manila (MNL/RPLL)
Which runway is active at Manila (MNL/RPLL) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 08:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 06. The METAR wind is 60° at 5 kt. 06 shows +5.0 kt headwind and 0.0 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Manila (MNL) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 29° elevation. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 77/100, 1234 m from runway 06, view bearing 31.0°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 250° and 20°. Short final 06 - sunny side scores 92/100 on a 89.5° 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 Ninoy Aquino International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL/RPLL) 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 06 - sunny side. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 1 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 RPLL spotting locations?
RPLL spotting locations sun direction: Short final 06 - sunny side (runway 06) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP 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 Manila (MNL)?
Short final 06 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 06 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 Manila (RPLL)?
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, ATIS 126.4 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 118.1 MHz.
How do I know when Manila (MNL) switches active runways?
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 11:00 shifts the wind to 270° at 12 kt, favoring 24 in about 2.4 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/RPLL#runway-alerts