Bitcoiners - Live From Bitcoin Beach
Behind The World's First Bitcoin Air Taxi Network in El Salvador
- Helicopter operation in El Salvador: Jamie McBride discussed launching Cielo Norte Aviacion (CNA), a helicopter charter and air taxi service based at Salamanca airstrip, with certification expected mid-February.
- Multi-country ferry flight: McBride piloted a helicopter from Ontario, Canada to El Salvador across the US, Mexico, and Guatemala in 18 stops total, taking two days in Mexico due to mountain weather challenges.
- Aviation infrastructure and use cases: Identified multiple market opportunities including tourism (volcanoes, beaches), real estate property tours, government geo-surveying with LiDAR technology, and mining operations support.
- Family business expansion: The McBride family operates multiple businesses in El Salvador including Sat Street (Bitcoin exchange) and True North Airways in Canada, which grew from $500k to $10m in annual revenue.
- Geographic advantages: El Salvador's small size makes it ideal for helicopter operations—most locations are 10–20 minutes from the centrally located base, eliminating lengthy road travel compared to airport access.
- Future growth plans: CNA intends to add more helicopters, expand into fixed-wing aircraft, and establish El Salvador as the aviation hub of Latin America.