Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB / VCBI) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bandaranaike Colombo
CMB/VCBI
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 02:36 local
- Active runway
- 22
- METAR wind
- 160° @ 5 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 22 - sunny side
- Sun
- 101° / -50°
Wind vector · +3 kt headwind
MVFR
Night
Sunrise in 3h 23m
NightWant a Telegram ping when VCBI flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Bandaranaike Colombo (CMB) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
MVFR160° @ 5 kt
25°C · 5 sm · 1008 hPa
SCT018
Sunrise in 3h 23m
Runway alerts for Bandaranaike International Colombo 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 CMB, 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 22 - sunny side Runway 22 | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-10:00 local. Avoid 13:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 22 · Dep 22
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | 37° | 10,991 ft | -2.7 kt | 4.2 kt | Standby |
| 22 | 217° | 10,991 ft | +2.7 kt | 4.2 kt | Both |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Bandaranaike Colombo (VCBI)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.700 | Published |
| Approach | 120.900 | Published |
| Departure | 126.300 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.900 | Published |
| Delivery | 129.100 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 127.200 | 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 Bandaranaike Colombo (CMB/VCBI)
Which runway is active at Bandaranaike Colombo (CMB/VCBI) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 01:40 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 22. The METAR wind is 160° at 5 kt. 22 shows +2.7 kt headwind and 4.2 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Bandaranaike Colombo (CMB) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 109° azimuth and 28° elevation. Short final 22 - sunny side scores 88/100, 1234 m from runway 22, view bearing 246.2°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 252° and 26°. Short final 22 - sunny side scores 74/100 on a 187.8° 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 Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB/VCBI) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 22 - sunny side. 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 VCBI spotting locations?
VCBI spotting locations sun direction: Short final 22 - sunny side (runway 22) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and BACKLIT / GLARE in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-10:00 local. Avoid 13:00-18:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Bandaranaike Colombo (CMB)?
Short final 22 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 22 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 Bandaranaike Colombo (VCBI)?
Monitor Tower 118.7 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, Approach 120.9 MHz, ATIS 127.2 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 Bandaranaike Colombo (CMB) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 160° at 5 kt, so 22 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/VCBI#runway-alerts