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Explore retired aircraft skin tags ->Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU / UCFL) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Tamchy, Kyrgyzstan
Issyk-Kul
IKU/UCFL
Updated Thu 29 Oct, 10:20 local
- Active runway
- 07
- METAR wind
- 110° @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 07 - sunny side
- Sun
- 142° / 26°
Landing: 07 65% · 25 35% · Wind vector · headwind 1.6 kt
MVFR
Side-lit
Golden hour in 6h 53m
Departure: 07 65% · 25 35%
Side-litWant a Telegram ping when UCFL flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Issyk-Kul (IKU) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
MVFR110° @ 2 kt
8°C · 10+ km · 1025 hPa
BKN030
Landing: 07 65% · 25 35%
Departure: 07 65% · 25 35%
Sunrise · Sunset
Az 142° · El 26°Side light
Sunrise
07:23
Sunset
17:52
Live · Auto-updatingThu 29 Oct, 10:20 localAz 142° · El 26°Side-lit
Golden hour in 6h 53m
+0h
Historical Runway Split & Wind Reliability
Prevailing flow: 96% · 07: 4%
Dominant wind sector E · 1 live logged observation
Prevailing flow 96%
07 4%
Live flight board
Alert me on Telegram for Rare Heavies at UCFLPast Arrivals
Free · up to 10No landed arrivals recorded in the current radar window for UCFL.
Next Arrivals
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No inbound arrivals inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Arrivals #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Past Departures
Free · up to 10No departures recorded in the current radar window for UCFL.
Next Departures
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No taxiing departures inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Departures #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Runway alerts for Issyk-Kul 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 IKU, 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 07 - sunny side Runway 07 | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 13:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 07 · Dep 07
Landing: 07 65% · 25 35%
Departure: 07 65% · 25 35%
TAF at Thu 29 Oct, 12:00 shifts the wind to 220° at 14 kt, favoring 25 in about 1.7 hours.
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 | 74° | 12,467 ft | 1.6 kt | 1.2 kt | Both |
| 25 | 254° | 12,467 ft | tailwind 1.6 kt | 1.2 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Issyk-Kul (UCFL)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.700 | Verified |
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 pageYour brand on UCFL
One sponsor card on the UCFL live map. $85/mo, shown to spotters after they check the runway.
Sponsor UCFL ($85/mo) ->Alerts: $3/mo or $29/yr Pro for 45-minute Telegram runway and exceptional-flight pings. Partner links may earn a commission.
Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Issyk-Kul (IKU/UCFL)
Which runway is active at Issyk-Kul (IKU/UCFL) right now?
As of Thu 29 Oct, 10:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 07. The METAR wind is 110° at 2 kt. 07 shows headwind 1.6 kt and 1.2 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Issyk-Kul (IKU) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 6° elevation. Short final 07 - sunny side scores 75/100, 1234 m from runway 07, view bearing 44.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 232° and 17°. Short final 07 - sunny side scores 94/100 on a 44.7° 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 Issyk-Kul International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU/UCFL) 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 07 - sunny side. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 1 spotting location. 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 UCFL spotting locations?
UCFL spotting locations sun direction: Short final 07 - sunny side (runway 07) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 13:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Issyk-Kul (IKU)?
Short final 07 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 07 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 Issyk-Kul (UCFL)?
Monitor Tower 118.7 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 118.7 MHz.
How do I know when Issyk-Kul (IKU) switches active runways?
TAF at Thu 29 Oct, 12:00 shifts the wind to 220° at 14 kt, favoring 25 in about 1.7 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/UCFL#runway-alerts
How is Plane Spotter's Live funded? Do you use affiliate or sponsor links?
Plane Spotter's Live is independent and free to use. To cover live weather, radar, and hosting costs without intrusive popups or display ads, we offer optional $3/mo Telegram runway flip alerts, one quiet $85/mo sponsor slot per airport, and selected partner referral links (such as Aviationtag retired aircraft skin tags, telephoto lens rentals, VHF airband scanners, and runway-view airport hotels). If you purchase through a partner link, we may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you.