The "best", sez who?
a black mark against OUR industry
As Tonto said to the Lone Ranger, what do you mean "we" W%it£ Man?
These people are Swiss. Do you really think they would expose themselves to unnecessary risk?
Probably 90% of all helicopter flight in that country is sling work. It goes on in built up areas and regularly crosses roads. The rigging of and rigging equipment is regulated the same as cranes.
The guys you see in the movie with the orange outfits are trained and licenced to do the job by FOCA.
If you were to do a risk assessment for this operation, what would be the basis of your assessment?
The Austrian accident is not unique to helicopter sling loads. The US Navy/Marines achieved the same or worse with a fixed wing. Trento Italy ~Feb 1998.
The operation would have been fully insured and sanctioned by the NAA's involved.
spinwing - dig out your insurance policy and see who insures
your insurance company.
Premiums are normally concurrent with "idiot factor" in a geographic location.