Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG / SBGL) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Rio Galeao
GIG/SBGL
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 14:52 local
- Active runway
- 15
- METAR wind
- 140° @ 9 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 15 - sunny side
- Sun
- 274° / 43°
Wind vector · +9 kt headwind
VFR
Side-lit
Golden hour in 2h 41m
Side-litWant a Telegram ping when SBGL flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Rio Galeao (GIG) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR140° @ 9 kt
24°C · 10+ km · 1020 hPa
FEW030 BKN050
Golden hour in 2h 41m
Runway alerts for Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim 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 GIG, 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 15 - sunny side Runway 15 | SIDE LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 13:00. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 15 · Dep 15
TAF at Tue 27 Oct, 21:00 shifts the wind to 90° at 5 kt, favoring 10 in about 6.1 hours.
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 74° | 13,123 ft | +3.7 kt | 8.2 kt | Standby |
| 28 | 254° | 13,123 ft | -3.7 kt | 8.2 kt | Standby |
| 15 | 125° | 10,433 ft | +8.7 kt | 2.3 kt | Both |
| 33 | 305° | 10,433 ft | -8.7 kt | 2.3 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Rio Galeao (SBGL)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.000 | Published |
| Approach | 119.350 | Published |
| Departure | 126.400 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.650 | Published |
| Delivery | 121.000 | Published |
| ATIS | 127.600 | 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 Rio Galeao (GIG/SBGL)
Which runway is active at Rio Galeao (GIG/SBGL) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 14:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 15. The METAR wind is 140° at 9 kt. 15 shows +8.7 kt headwind and 2.3 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Rio Galeao (GIG) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 89° azimuth and 38° elevation. Short final 15 - sunny side scores 72/100, 1716 m from runway 10, view bearing 154.3°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 267° and 27°. Short final 15 - sunny side scores 81/100 on a 154.3° 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 Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG/SBGL) 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 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 SBGL spotting locations?
SBGL spotting locations sun direction: Short final 15 - sunny side (runway 15) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 13:00. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Rio Galeao (GIG)?
Short final 15 - sunny side is 1716 m from the 10 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 Rio Galeao (SBGL)?
Monitor Tower 118.0 MHz, Ground 121.65 MHz, Approach 119.35 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 118.0 MHz.
How do I know when Rio Galeao (GIG) switches active runways?
TAF at Tue 27 Oct, 21:00 shifts the wind to 90° at 5 kt, favoring 10 in about 6.1 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/SBGL#runway-alerts