Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY / ZLXY) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Xi'an, China
Xi'an Xianyang
XIY/ZLXY
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 06:58 local
- Active runway
- 05L / 06L / 06R
- METAR wind
- 360° @ 4 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 05L - sunny side
- Sun
- 105° / -1°
Wind vector · +3 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 3m
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Best Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR360° @ 4 kt
9°C · 10+ km · 1024 hPa
CAVOK
Sunrise in 3m
Runway alerts for Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
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Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at XIY, 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 05L - sunny side Runway 05L | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 06L - sunny side Runway 06L | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 14:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-09:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 05L / 06L / 06R · Dep 05L / 06L
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05L | 49° | 12,467 ft | +2.6 kt | 3.0 kt | Both |
| 23R | 229° | 12,467 ft | -2.6 kt | 3.0 kt | Standby |
| 06L | 49° | 12,467 ft | +2.6 kt | 3.0 kt | Both |
| 24R | 229° | 12,467 ft | -2.6 kt | 3.0 kt | Standby |
| 06R | 49° | 9,843 ft | +2.6 kt | 3.0 kt | Landing |
| 24L | 229° | 9,843 ft | -2.6 kt | 3.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Xi'an Xianyang (ZLXY)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 124.300 | Published |
| Approach | 119.600 | Published |
| Departure | 128.650 | Published |
| Ground | 121.800 | Published |
| Delivery | 121.600 | Published |
| ATIS | 127.450 | 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 Xi'an Xianyang (XIY/ZLXY)
Which runway is active at Xi'an Xianyang (XIY/ZLXY) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 06:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing 05L+06L+06R, departure 05L+06L. The METAR wind is 360° at 4 kt. 05L shows +2.6 kt headwind and 3.0 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 11° elevation. Short final 05L - sunny side scores 80/100, 1234 m from runway 05L, view bearing 19.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 236° and 21°. Short final 05L - sunny side scores 92/100 on a 78.2° 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 Xi'an Xianyang International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY/ZLXY) 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 05L - sunny side, Short final 06L - sunny side. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 2 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 ZLXY spotting locations?
ZLXY spotting locations sun direction: Short final 05L - sunny side (runway 05L) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 11:00-18:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 06L - sunny side (runway 06L) 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 14:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-09:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Xi'an Xianyang (XIY)?
Short final 05L - sunny side is 1234 m from the 05L 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 Xi'an Xianyang (ZLXY)?
Monitor Tower 124.3 MHz, Ground 121.8 MHz, Approach 119.6 MHz, ATIS 127.45 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 124.3 MHz.
How do I know when Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 360° at 4 kt, so 05L 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/ZLXY#runway-alerts