Pprune No#1
C'mon now, surely you're not that inflexible?
Everyone who flies helos for a profession, knows that a downwind landing is always available, should the need arise. Provided one takes charge of the situation, they are not procedures one should shy away from.
I have done a fair number of downwind approaches to land whilst tasked on EMS; why? because there is no-where else to land - plain and simple. Do I cancel the landing because there is no other alternative, of course not.
One of the benefits of a helo is that it is versatile in this instance. If a pilot knows their limits and operates cautiously then there is absolutely no reason NOT to employ a downwind landing...WHEN THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE (there's the rub).
Try it some time...you'll be amazed...