Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM / VNKT) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tribhuvan
KTM/VNKT
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 06:52 local
- Active runway
- 02
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 02 - sunny side
- Sun
- 109° / 8°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
MVFR
Side-lit
Golden hour in 10h 0m
Side-litWant a Telegram ping when VNKT flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Tribhuvan (KTM) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
MVFRVRB @ 2 kt
12°C · 3.7 sm · 1023 hPa
FEW015 BKN250
Golden hour in 10h 0m
Runway alerts for Tribhuvan 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 KTM, 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 02 - sunny side Runway 02 | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 09:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 02 · Dep 02
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 22° | 10,991 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 20 | 202° | 10,991 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Tribhuvan (VNKT)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.100 | Published |
| Approach | 120.600 | Published |
| Departure | 124.825 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.900 | Published |
| Delivery | 129.625 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 127.000 | 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 Tribhuvan (KTM/VNKT)
Which runway is active at Tribhuvan (KTM/VNKT) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 06:45 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 02. The METAR wind is variable at 2 kt. 02 is the long-runway pick because the wind is calm or variable. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Tribhuvan (KTM) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 119° azimuth and 22° elevation. Short final 02 - sunny side scores 86/100, 1234 m from runway 02, view bearing 352.8°, best as a midday spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 245° and 17°. Short final 02 - sunny side scores 93/100 on a 51.2° 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 Tribhuvan International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM/VNKT) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 02 - 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 0 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 VNKT spotting locations?
VNKT spotting locations sun direction: Short final 02 - sunny side (runway 02) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 09:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Tribhuvan (KTM)?
Short final 02 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 02 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 Tribhuvan (VNKT)?
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, Approach 120.6 MHz, ATIS 127.0 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 Tribhuvan (KTM) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near variable at 2 kt, so 02 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/VNKT#runway-alerts