Yes, the skyline operator, who stays at the top where the engine is, is the one lowering the load.
There are only two cables, one to support the cart and the other to provide pulling force and with some special movement self clamping on the support cable and lowering the load.
See http://www.fao.org/docrep/X0622E/x0622e15.htm
Everything is done via radio, where to stop and when to release. If the operator could see what is doing it would be a huge improvement.
Phones are not an option since more than often you won't have signal.
Budget is low because is a family collateral business, they mostly keep going with rather old equipment only every second year probably like a tradition thing rather than a real income. Is not that they skip on safety in any way. It's just how the job is, probably everywhere.
Anyway, I had a look around for ideas and I wanted to have your opinion on this:
https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/media/sets/110VDSLEXT2_manual/110VDSLEXxxx_manual.pdf
There are other version of it, reviews on amazon seems ok...