posted Jul 18th, 2024 - The NSL Live Talk conversation with NMP PCH HayaBusa on July 10th, after the completion of the CISM World Championship in Hungary, included the topic of the exit rules and procedures, which are significantly different compared to civilian FAI/ISC events.

The four active members of this year's Belgian CISM lineup (Inside Center David Grauwels, Outside Center Dennis Praet, Point Jeroen Nollet, Tail Neal Willems) shared their experiences with the NSL News audience, and newest member Ray Lodens was with his team in Hungary, as well.

NMP PCH HayaBusa's CISM videographer Koen Vangestel did not join the conversation, even though he plays just as much a major role in CISM competition as David Grauwels does now at other FAI/ISC events. Videographers at the CISM World Championship have choices and options how to get the team performance into the frame. The CISM teams have a maximum of five seconds available to build a Star (Random Formation M) as the first formation of each sequence. The break of the Star initiates the start of the 35 seconds working time. The 35 seconds will also begin after five seconds if the team keeps holding the Star longer than the maximum time.

CISM Military 2024			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Male - Top 4		M,16,E,B		M,D,F,21		M,A,C,22		M,O,19,P		M,H,L,11		M,G,N,1		M,17,K,J		M,Q,R,14		Total	Avg
1	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	37	1	36		30		34		30	2	30	1	39		31	2	267	33.4
2	Golden Knights	US	35	2	35		28	2	36		34		30		37		28	1	263	32.9
3	Qatar Tigers	QA	38	1	31	3	25	4	37		31	1	25	3	38	1	29		254	31.8
4	Papea	ES	27	2	33		26		29		32		27	1	30	1	24		228	28.5

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NMP PCH HayaBusa - Golden Knights - Qatar Tigers at the CISM 2024, video footage courtesy of FAI/InTime

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It happened actually twice at this year's CISM World Championship that teams held the first Star longer than five seconds. David Grauwels explained during the NSL Live Talk conversation that his team waited longer for a good reason. They noticed that team videographer Koen Vangestel was not in position and ready to film the start of the working time according to the judging requirements.

NMP PCH HayaBusa had an average time of 4.63 seconds in all eight rounds until breaking the Star. They waited for 6.33 seconds in Round 6 when they noticed that the position of the camera would not guarantee the capturing of the first maneuvers, which would cause point deductions on the score sheet.

David Grauwels is very familiar with the CISM rules, as he has won the military world championship title 16 consecutive times with different HayaBusa lineups since 2007. He has learned and practiced communicating the break of the Star with the respective videographers over the years, and it does not distract him too much any longer. He is now on camera himself for the new NMP PCH HayaBusa lineup who will compete at the FAI Outdoor World Championships 2024 in October, and he understands the details of filming a 4-way team, as well.

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NMP PCH HayaBusa with David Grauwels on camera in Norway 2023 and as inside center at the CISM competition

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It is even more challenging to film a team when the working time begins as soon as any team member "separates from the aircraft as determined by the judges". David Grauwels can expect that his team launches any first formation complete and breaks it very quickly when he is on camera. The active team members do not communicate with him whether he is ready or not.

However, the communication with the CISM videographer is helpful, as the situation in HayaBusa's Round 6 is showing. The investment of more than another second after the maximum holding time of five seconds generated scoring formations without any point deductions at the beginning of the working time. NMP PCH HayaBusa still tied the 30-pointer of the Golden Knights, who had a head-start of exactly two seconds after breaking their Star 4.33 seconds after the exit.

The Qatar Tigers on the other side were possibly planning to reduce their holding time of the Star after Round 1 when they broke it shortly after the 5-second starting line (5.43 seconds). They reduced the holding time in Round 2 and Round 3 significantly, and their videographer may not have been ready for the change. The Qatar Tigers lost at least one point due to "Camera Angle / Grip Visibility" in Round 2, even all of the first four points in Round 3. They had the lead after Round 1 and fell nine points behind NMP PCH HayaBusa at the end of Round 3. From then on forward they matched the breaking times of the Golden Knights and were within striking distance at the remaining five rounds.