Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling a suspended load comprising an aircraft, an apparatus at the aircraft comprising a winch adapted to deploy and retrieve a tether attached to the load. A stabilizer may be connected to the tether, the tether stabilizer including at least lateral thrust capability and sensors and control circuitry. In this embodiment, the control circuitry communicates with the aircraft, winch and stabilizer to translate the load attached to the tether and the aircraft is maneuvered at an altitude and airspeed in which the load is enabled to descend, ascend and translate laterally, by any of controlling a length of the tether with the winch, altering the path and speed of the aircraft and controlling the lateral thrust of the stabilizer.

Abstract: A method for extracting a rescue subject from a surface position includes lowering a rescue pod having an enclosed compartment with a door from an aircraft, the rescue pod having a parachute and a control system, the rescue pod connected by a tether to a winch in the aircraft, controllably releasing the tether from the winch while maneuvering the aircraft into an orbit at altitude, diameter and airspeed, creating a gravity well in which the tether describes a spiral configuration with the pod descending along a vertical centerline, lowering the pod to the surface position, loading the rescue subject into the enclosed compartment, and lifting the rescue pod from the surface position by retrieving the tether with the winch or altering the path and speed of the aircraft, in a manner to gradually increase tension in the tether lifting the rescue pod from the ground point.

Abstract: A method for extracting a rescue subject from a surface position includes lowering a rescue pod having an enclosed compartment with a door from an aircraft, the rescue pod having a parachute and a control system, the rescue pod connected by a tether to a winch in the aircraft, controllably releasing the tether from the winch while maneuvering the aircraft into an orbit at altitude, diameter and airspeed, creating a gravity well in which the tether describes a spiral configuration with the pod descending along a vertical centerline, lowering the pod to the surface position, loading the rescue subject into the enclosed compartment, and lifting the rescue pod from the surface position by retrieving the tether with the winch or altering the path and speed of the aircraft, in a manner to gradually increase tension in the tether lifting the rescue pod from the ground point.

Abstract: A method for extracting a rescue subject from a surface position includes lowering a rescue pod having an enclosed compartment with a door from an aircraft, the rescue pod having a parachute and a control system, the rescue pod connected by a tether to a winch in the aircraft, controllably releasing the tether from the winch while maneuvering the aircraft into an orbit at altitude, diameter and airspeed, creating a gravity well in which the tether describes a spiral configuration with the pod descending along a vertical centerline, lowering the pod to the surface position, loading the rescue subject into the enclosed compartment, and lifting the rescue pod from the surface position by retrieving the tether with the winch or altering the path and speed of the aircraft, in a manner to gradually increase tension in the tether lifting the rescue pod from the ground point.

Abstract: A method for extracting a rescue subject from a surface position includes lowering a rescue pod having an enclosed compartment with a door from an aircraft, the rescue pod having a parachute and a control system, the rescue pod connected by a tether to a winch in the aircraft, controllably releasing the tether from the winch while maneuvering the aircraft into an orbit at altitude, diameter and airspeed, creating a gravity well in which the tether describes a spiral configuration with the pod descending along a vertical centerline, lowering the pod to the surface position, loading the rescue subject into the enclosed compartment, and lifting the rescue pod from the surface position by retrieving the tether with the winch or altering the path and speed of the aircraft, in a manner to gradually increase tension in the tether lifting the rescue pod from the ground point.

Abstract: A method for extracting a person or package from a ground point involves dropping a pod, connected to a tether, with parachute and radio from an aircraft, connected by tether line to the fixed-wing aircraft, tracking descent of the pod to an extraction point, maneuvering the fixed wing aircraft into a circular orbit creating a gravity well, donning the parachute with harness by a subject to be extracted, and altering path and speed of the fixed-wing aircraft to gradually increase tension in the tether to lift the subject in the harness from the ground point, and to accelerate the subject to an altitude and path to carry the subject in the harness to a predetermined altitude over a second ground point.

Abstract: A method for extracting a person or package from a ground point involves dropping a pod, connected to a tether, with parachute and radio from an aircraft, connected by tether line to the fixed-wing aircraft, tracking descent of the pod to an extraction point, maneuvering the fixed wing aircraft into a circular orbit creating a gravity well, donning the parachute with harness by a subject to be extracted, and altering path and speed of the fixed-wing aircraft to gradually increase tension in the tether to lift the subject in the harness from the ground point, and to accelerate the subject to an altitude and path to carry the subject in the harness to a predetermined altitude over a second ground point.