Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU / ZUTF) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Chengdu (Jianyang), China
Chengdu Tianfu
TFU/ZUTF
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 04:48 local
- Active runway
- 01 / 02
- METAR wind
- 40° @ 4 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 01 - sunny side
- Sun
- 87° / -32°
Wind vector · +4 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 2h 25m
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Best Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR40° @ 4 kt
13°C · 10+ km · 1023 hPa
SCT006 SCT016 BKN040
Sunrise in 2h 25m
Runway alerts for Chengdu Tianfu 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 TFU, 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 01 - sunny side Runway 01 | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 10:00-16:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 02 - sunny side Runway 02 | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 10:00-16:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 01 / 02 · Dep 01 / 02
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 22° | 13,123 ft | +3.8 kt | 1.2 kt | Both |
| 19 | 202° | 13,123 ft | -3.8 kt | 1.2 kt | Standby |
| 11 | 112° | 12,467 ft | +1.2 kt | 3.8 kt | Standby |
| 29 | 292° | 12,467 ft | -1.2 kt | 3.8 kt | Standby |
| 02 | 22° | 10,499 ft | +3.8 kt | 1.2 kt | Both |
| 20 | 202° | 10,499 ft | -3.8 kt | 1.2 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Chengdu Tianfu (ZUTF)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.800 | Published |
| Approach | 121.175 | Assigned |
| Departure | 124.725 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.750 | Assigned |
| Delivery | 129.525 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 127.070 | 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 Chengdu Tianfu (TFU/ZUTF)
Which runway is active at Chengdu Tianfu (TFU/ZUTF) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 04:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 01+02. The METAR wind is 40° at 4 kt. 01 shows +3.8 kt headwind and 1.2 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 111° azimuth and 9° elevation. Short final 01 - sunny side scores 84/100, 1234 m from runway 01, view bearing 352.9°, best as a midday spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 234° and 26°. Short final 01 - sunny side scores 95/100 on a 51.3° 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 Chengdu Tianfu International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU/ZUTF) 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: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. 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 ZUTF spotting locations?
ZUTF spotting locations sun direction: Short final 01 - sunny side (runway 01) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 10:00-16:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 02 - sunny side (runway 02) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 10:00-16:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Chengdu Tianfu (TFU)?
Short final 01 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 01 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 Chengdu Tianfu (ZUTF)?
Monitor Tower 118.8 MHz, ATIS 127.07 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 118.8 MHz.
How do I know when Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 40° at 4 kt, so 01 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/ZUTF#runway-alerts