Well, I have to say that working with a hoist and a nice team is for me the only option there should be. I understand that "expensive" should not be a consideration to take into account, once someone decides to place a helicopter to do the job, it should be assumed that it's expensive, so let's get the minimum equipment to do what it's supposed to do i.e. a HOIST. I think nobody should do sea rescue without floats .... for the same reason...
Of course you guys that do long line have my respect for you are doing the job without the best tool.
Anyway I believe the main thing is to have full confidence in every member of the team: hoist man, rescuers, pilot...
We do only the rescue job, once the person is out of the accident scenary we fly a short distance to a near by spot where we have already waiting an EMS helicopter to take him/her to hospital
WHAT A LUXURY!!!!
All that we do with an AS355N and a hoist for 204 kgs. capacity.
Buen vuelo.