A rescue hoist comprising: a cable drum rotatable about a cable drum axis; a linear bearing extending through and supporting the cable drum, the linear bearing configured to cause the cable drum to rotate about the cable drum axis; a stationary frame supporting the linear bearing; and a level wind mechanism, comprising: a first screw including a first driven end, a first distal end, and a first thread; a second screw including a second driven end, a second distal end, and a second thread; a block through which the first screw and the second screw extend, wherein the block is mounted to an inner surface of the cable drum such that the block rotates with the cable drum; a shoe retained within the block, the shoe having a first follower extending from a first end of the shoe and a second follower extending from a second end of the shoe, the first follower configured to engage with and be driven by the first thread and the second follower configured to engage with and be driven by the second thread; and a mount extending around and supporting the first driven end and the second driven end, the mount attached to the linear bearing such that the mount rotates about the cable drum axis with the linear bearing and the cable drum; wherein rotating the first screw and the second screw causes the shoe to translate along the first screw and the second screw to cause the block, and thus the cable drum, to shift laterally along the first screw and the second screw such that the cable drum translates along the cable drum axis. a cable drum rotatable about a cable drum axis; a linear bearing extending through and supporting the cable drum, the linear bearing configured to cause the cable drum to rotate about the cable drum axis; a stationary frame supporting the linear bearing; and a level wind mechanism, comprising: a first screw including a first driven end, a first distal end, and a first thread; a second screw including a second driven end, a second distal end, and a second thread; a block through which the first screw and the second screw extend, wherein the block is mounted to an inner surface of the cable drum such that the block rotates with the cable drum; a shoe retained within the block, the shoe having a first follower extending from a first end of the shoe and a second follower extending from a second end of the shoe, the first follower configured to engage with and be driven by the first thread and the second follower configured to engage with and be driven by the second thread; and a mount extending around and supporting the first driven end and the second driven end, the mount attached to the linear bearing such that the mount rotates about the cable drum axis with the linear bearing and the cable drum; a first screw including a first driven end, a first distal end, and a first thread; a second screw including a second driven end, a second distal end, and a second thread; a block through which the first screw and the second screw extend, wherein the block is mounted to an inner surface of the cable drum such that the block rotates with the cable drum; a shoe retained within the block, the shoe having a first follower extending from a first end of the shoe and a second follower extending from a second end of the shoe, the first follower configured to engage with and be driven by the first thread and the second follower configured to engage with and be driven by the second thread; and a mount extending around and supporting the first driven end and the second driven end, the mount attached to the linear bearing such that the mount rotates about the cable drum axis with the linear bearing and the cable drum; wherein rotating the first screw and the second screw causes the shoe to translate along the first screw and the second screw to cause the block, and thus the cable drum, to shift laterally along the first screw and the second screw such that the cable drum translates along the cable drum axis.