Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport (URC / ZWWW) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Ürümqi, China
Ürümqi Tianshan
URC/ZWWW
Updated Wed 28 Oct, 05:49 local
- Active runway
- 07 / 08R / 08L
- METAR wind
- VRB @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 07 - sunny side
- Sun
- 99° / -10°
Wind vector · +0 kt headwind
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 52m
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Best Ürümqi Tianshan (URC) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFRVRB @ 2 kt
0°C · 10+ km · 1030 hPa
CAVOK
Sunrise in 52m
Runway alerts for Ürümqi Tianshan 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 URC, 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 07 - sunny side Runway 07 | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 12:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
| Short final 08R - sunny side Runway 08R | SIDE LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 12:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 07 / 08R / 08L · Dep 07 / 08R
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 | 74° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 25 | 254° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 08R | 74° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Both |
| 26L | 254° | 11,811 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 08L | 74° | 10,498 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Landing |
| 26R | 254° | 10,498 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Ürümqi Tianshan (ZWWW)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.100 | Published |
| Approach | 120.325 | Assigned |
| Departure | 125.775 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.650 | Published |
| Delivery | 129.675 | Assigned |
| ATIS | 126.700 | 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 Ürümqi Tianshan (URC/ZWWW)
Which runway is active at Ürümqi Tianshan (URC/ZWWW) right now?
As of Wed 28 Oct, 05:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing 07+08R+08L, departure 07+08R. The METAR wind is variable at 2 kt. 07 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 Ürümqi Tianshan (URC) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 122° azimuth and 12° elevation. Short final 07 - sunny side scores 76/100, 1234 m from runway 07, view bearing 44.7°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 240° and 10°. Short final 07 - sunny side scores 93/100 on a 44.7° 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 Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport (URC/ZWWW) 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 07 - sunny side, Short final 08R - 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 ZWWW spotting locations?
ZWWW spotting locations sun direction: Short final 07 - sunny side (runway 07) 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 12:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 08R - sunny side (runway 08R) 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 12:00-17:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Ürümqi Tianshan (URC)?
Short final 07 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 07 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 Ürümqi Tianshan (ZWWW)?
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Ground 121.65 MHz, ATIS 126.7 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 118.1 MHz.
How do I know when Ürümqi Tianshan (URC) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near variable at 2 kt, so 07 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/ZWWW#runway-alerts