The vario flying instruments pilots carry with them are also GPS receivers, able to log fairly accurate position fixes every few seconds for many hours as needed for longer flights. This data in combination with the task set for the day's flying we number crunch to measure pilots against one another and the course along several axes. The exact combination of formulae we call GAP, after the initials of the first names of the three inventors of this method.
The official scoring program for hang gliding and paragliding competitions is
FS. Outputs for a scored competition task are mingled
with inputs in the *.fsdb file. Once scored, task and competition reports can
be made with FS. These simple static web pages with tables of pilot scores,
penalties and scoring formulae parameter values can be hosted on any web server
in order to publish the results. In addition to the points scored, there are
columns in the task table for the time on course, the distance flown and for
the breakdown of the scored points among distance points, lead points, time
points and arrival points.
Looking for examples? There is a good archive of past Forbes Flatlands competition results, for instance results for task 1 of the 19th World Hang Gliding Champs.
Commission Internationale de Vol Libre (CIVL - Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission) is an Air Sport Commission (ASC) of the Fédération Internationale Aéronautique (FAI). CIVL produce FS. It is the work of paid and volunteer developers.
The scoring method is well documented. Principal documents are;
- Sporting Code Section 7A - Annex
GAP
- The definitive guide produced and maintained by CIVL.
- GAP
2002
- A much shorter and less formal guide that is a good first read to gain an understanding of why GAP is needed and how it works.