U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP / VTBU) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Rayong, Thailand
U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya
UTP/VTBU
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 03:48 local
- Active runway
- 36
- METAR wind
- 340° @ 6 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 36 - sunny side
- Sun
- 97° / -34°
Wind vector · +5 kt headwind
MVFR
Night
Sunrise in 2h 20m
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Best U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (UTP) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
MVFR340° @ 6 kt
25°C · 3.7 sm · 1010 hPa
FEW020
Sunrise in 2h 20m
Runway alerts for U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya 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 UTP, 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 36 - sunny side Runway 36 | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-11:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 36 · Dep 36
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 08:00 shifts the wind to 150° at 8 kt, favoring 18 in about 4.2 hours.
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 185° | 11,500 ft | -5.4 kt | 2.5 kt | Standby |
| 36 | 5° | 11,500 ft | +5.4 kt | 2.5 kt | Both |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (VTBU)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.300 | Published |
| Approach | 119.700 | Published |
| Departure | 125.125 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.900 | Published |
| Delivery | 129.725 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 135.025 | Assigned |
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 U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (UTP/VTBU)
Which runway is active at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (UTP/VTBU) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 03:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 36. The METAR wind is 340° at 6 kt. 36 shows +5.4 kt headwind and 2.5 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (UTP) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 111° azimuth and 25° elevation. Short final 36 - sunny side scores 87/100, 1234 m from runway 36, view bearing 335.8°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 249° and 25°. Short final 36 - sunny side scores 89/100 on a 34.2° 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 U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP/VTBU) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 36 - 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 VTBU spotting locations?
VTBU spotting locations sun direction: Short final 36 - sunny side (runway 36) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-11:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (UTP)?
Short final 36 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 36 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 U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (VTBU)?
Monitor Tower 118.3 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, Approach 119.7 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 118.3 MHz.
How do I know when U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya (UTP) switches active runways?
TAF at Wed 28 Oct, 08:00 shifts the wind to 150° at 8 kt, favoring 18 in about 4.2 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/VTBU#runway-alerts