Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ / SAME) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Mendoza, Argentina
Governor Francisco Gabrielli
MDZ/SAME
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 20:47 local
- Active runway
- 18
- METAR wind
- 110° @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 18 - sunny side
- Sun
- 247° / -11°
Wind vector · +1 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sun below the useful photo window
NightWant a Telegram ping when SAME flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR110° @ 2 kt
20°C · 10+ km · 1020 hPa
CAVOK
Sun below the useful photo window
Runway alerts for Governor Francisco Gabrielli 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 MDZ, 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 18 - sunny side Runway 18 | SIDE LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 18 · Dep 18
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 181° | 9,301 ft | +0.7 kt | 1.9 kt | Both |
| 36 | 1° | 9,301 ft | -0.7 kt | 1.9 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Governor Francisco Gabrielli (SAME)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 119.900 | Published |
| Approach | 120.750 | Assigned |
| Departure | 126.800 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.950 | Published |
| Delivery | 129.600 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 114.900 | 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 Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ/SAME)
Which runway is active at Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ/SAME) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 20:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 18. The METAR wind is 110° at 2 kt. 18 shows +0.7 kt headwind and 1.9 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 95° azimuth and 15° elevation. Short final 18 - sunny side scores 83/100, 1234 m from runway 18, view bearing 210.2°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 289° and 48°. Short final 18 - sunny side scores 88/100 on a 151.8° 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 Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ/SAME) 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 18 - 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 SAME spotting locations?
SAME spotting locations sun direction: Short final 18 - sunny side (runway 18) 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 14:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ)?
Short final 18 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 18 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 Governor Francisco Gabrielli (SAME)?
Monitor Tower 119.9 MHz, Ground 121.95 MHz, ATIS 114.9 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 119.9 MHz.
How do I know when Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 110° at 2 kt, so 18 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/SAME#runway-alerts