posted Nov 11th, 2018 - The results in 4-way Open at the FAI World Meet 2018 matched the scoring history of the teams quite well, which is always the foundation for the NSL Power Rankings in the run-up to an event.

The Top 5 rankings were completely identical before Amnesya placed better (6th) than predicted (7th). Amnesya left Satori XL behind and distanced themselves from the next teams. They finished in fact closer to the 5th place (Echochamber) than Satori XL could get to the Italian team.

The rankings behind Amnesya were back in the expected Top 10 order - with one major exception. The NSL Power Rankings were totally off when it came to the Swiss team Airheads.

It was a positive surprise that Airheads became the most improved team in Australia and eventually finished tied with Satori XL in 7th place. The only outdoor scores of the Swiss team in the NSL records was the 17.5 average at the FAI World Cup 2017, which was the 11th place after the four posted rounds in Saarlouis. The scoring level of 2017, without other more current scoring numbers, determined the 12th place in the NSL Power Rankings before the world meet in Australia.

FAI World Meet 2018			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open Power Ranking		TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	Aerodyne Realfly	FR	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	Qatar Tigers	QA	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5	Echochamber	SE	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
6	Satori XL	UK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
7	Amnesya	IT	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
8	Evolution	CA	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
9	Airbus FSZ Saar	DE	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
10	Tanay Wolves	RU	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
11	Rotor Out	AU	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
12	Airheads	CH	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

The team from Switzerland used the year well since the FAI World Cup 2017 and finished with a 20.1 average after the ten rounds in Australia. Reward was a Top 10 finish in 7th place, the best placing of a team from Switzerland at a world meet since 2004.

There was yet an earlier sign this year how strong the Swiss team might be at the FAI World Meet 2018. Airheads qualify as a military team for the annual CISM Championship, even though they are not professional soldiers in Switzerland. The NSL News posted the scores of the event on 24 August 2018 and focused on the competition between NMP PCH HayaBusa and Qatar Tigers, the pros in the sport and in military services.

Airheads competed at the same event and finished right behind them in 3rd place with a 29.1 average. The CISM dive pool and rules are nowhere even close to the athletic and mental challenges at the FAI/IPC events. However, the scores still indicate somehow the current performance level.

It was an interesting outcome at the CISM Championship 2018 in August, as all three medal winners at the military event turned out to be teams that also compete very successfully at civilian 4-way events. The Belgian gold medals at the CISM Championship were the third world championship title for HayaBusa, who are still the reigning FAI indoor world champions and then won the FAI outdoor title in Australia.

FAI World Meet 2018			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		21,L,B,G		22,18,17		19,7,O		J,16,12		10,A,D,15		Q,M,F,C,N		H,20,P,13		6,14,11		E,2,5		4,1,3		Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	32		21		27	-2	24		22	-3	62	-2	22	-2	20	-1	27	-1	22		279	27.9
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	26	-5	21		27	-1	24		24	-1	60	-1	26		22		27		20		277	27.7
3	Aerodyne Realfly	FR	29	-1	19		24	-2	23		24		52	-3	20	-3	17	-3	24		19		251	25.1
4	Qatar Tigers	QA	24	-2	14	-1	24	-1	21		22		53	-4	21	-1	18		20		17		234	23.4
5	Echochamber	SE	25	-1	16		21	-1	17	-2	20	-1	48	-4	14	-3	18		21	-1	15	-1	215	21.5
6	Amnesya	IT	24	-2	14		20	-1	18		18	-1	48	-5	18		14	-2	21	-1	15		210	21.0
7	Airheads	CH	22	-3	14	-2	19	-2	17	-1	18		44		16		16	-2	18	-1	17		201	20.1
7	Satori XL	UK	21		14	-1	21		19		19		37	-3	19		17		18	-1	16	-1	201	20.1
9	Evolution	CA	21	-1	13	-2	22		18	-1	15	-3	43	-2	15	-5	15	-2	19		15		196	19.6
10	Airbus FSZ Saar	DE	21	-1	14	-1	17	-5	17		16	-1	45	-1	15	-3	14	-1	18	-1	15		192	19.2

The 7th place in Australia did not come easily at all for Airheads. Three other strong and well trained teams were in contention for the finishing spot behind Amnysia, and the Swiss team and Satori XL both were not that far behind the Italians.

Satori XL, Evolution and Airbus were expected to finish ahead of Airheads, together with Tanay Wolves from Russia and the Australian home team Rotor Out. They all finished within the expected scoring range, and the Tanay Wolves even improved their previous scoring level significantly (15.8 in 2017 - 18.5 in 2018).

However, the progression of Airheads and the team's first 20+ average was surprising and enough to match the Satori XL performance level in 7th place. In fact, the Swiss team actually won the unofficial and internal tie-breaker with the British team with the highest score between the two teams in Round 6.

The Swiss team's 7th place is not only the best finishing placement for Switzerland since 2004. The 20.1 average is also significantly higher than the previous record number in Swiss 4-way history. Endeavour, Swiss national team of 2001 - 2004 placed 6th with an 18.7 average in Gap 2003. Airheads have now changed the standards in Switzerland with the first 20+ average...