Introduction to Air Sports Live Tracking (ASLT)

Welcome to the comprehensive user manual for Air Sports Live Tracking (ASLT). This platform is an open-source, non-profit system specifically engineered to modernize the management and scoring of competitive flying events.

By leveraging the ubiquitous nature of smartphones and the power of cloud-based real-time computation, ASLT provides a professional-grade tracking and results service without the prohibitive costs of traditional specialized hardware.

Core Philosophy: Modernizing the Skies

ASLT was born from a desire to make air sports more transparent, interactive, and accessible. Traditional scoring often relies on manual logs and post-flight processing, which can take hours or even days. ASLT changes this by:

Real-time Scoring: Penalties are calculated as they happen, allowing for live leaderboards in the clubhouse.
Cost Efficiency: Using existing hardware (iOS/Android devices) as primary trackers.
Accessibility: An intuitive interface for both pilots and organizers.
Reliability: Advanced offline buffering and “Adaptive Start” logic to handle the realities of aviation (variable wind, signal gaps, and pre-flight delays).

Who Should Use This Guide?

This documentation library is organized by user roles to help you find the information you need quickly:

1. The Contestant (Pilots & Crew)

If you are participating in an event, this guide will show you how to:

Configure your mobile device for maximum tracking reliability.
Register for events and manage your team details.
Understand the “Adaptive Start” and how to use your Flight Order.
Refer to: 02_Contestant_Guide.md and 06_Tracking_Devices.md

2. The Contest Manager (Organizers & Officials)

If you are running an event, this guide is your operational manual. It covers:

Setting up Contests and Navigation Tasks from scratch.
Using the Flight Scheduler Optimizer to handle complex logistics (shared aircraft/trackers).
Building routes with the integrated editor and applying specific scorecards.
Managing the Results Service for both flying and ground-based tests (landings, theory).
Refer to: 03_Contest_Manager_Guide.md, 04_Route_Creation_and_Tasks.md, 05_Results_Service_Guide.md, and 07_Competition_Types_and_Scorecards.md

How to Become an Organizer

To host a contest, you need Organizer status. This is automatically approved for all registered users. Simply log in to the platform and click the “Become an Organizer” button in the navigation bar. Once activated, the “Management” menu will appear, providing access to your contests and tools.

Technical Context

ASLT is a high-performance ecosystem utilizing:

Google Firebase: For secure, passwordless authentication.
Cloud Infrastructure: Scalable servers that process thousands of GPS points per second.
Linear Programming: Advanced mathematical solvers to optimize flight schedules.
Open Glider Network (OGN) & SafeSky Integration: Aggregating data from multiple sources for a complete tactical picture.

Support & Community

ASLT is a community-driven project. For specialized map processing (GeoTIFF) or to request organizer status, please contact support@airsports.no.

Proceed to the next chapters to begin your journey with Air Sports Live Tracking.