I will categorically state that I have NEVER been involved with any external load operation that has overflown people, or occupied premises, intentionally, at any time, nor would I permit it to happen, or be involved with it.
I say that on the basis of hundreds of construction lift jobs, and running operations that perform hundreds of external load lifts every day!
There is a damn good reason why operators that specialise in external load operations do not encounter accidents such as the one being discussed here. Completely and totally unacceptable operational practice.
And now I read today, that the cable car operator approved this operation to overfly their equipment. What is their experience in analysing this risk?