Air America

1998 - 1999

Betrayal

3rd October 1998

Episode 1

Former war hero and diplomat Frank Arnett is working for the organization OSI (Organization for Strategical Intervention), which battles drug trafficing in Central- and South America. Currently, Frank leads a mission called 'Operation Jaguar', which includes getting Hector Ramirez - courier between the drug cartel and the corrupt government Buenaventura - brought to America along with his cartel ledgers that can bring the bad guys down. Hector's only demand is that his girlfriend Isabella must be taken to America as well. Frank requests that his son, Navy pilot Rio Arnett, be brought in to help with the mission. OSI director Willard Jenner okays Rio's involvment but Henry Stanley, another important OSI figure, is vehemently oppsosed to the idea. Rio goes to Buenaventura and discovers that on the mission he'll also be working with his old pal Wiley Ferrell. Wiley briefly shows Rio around, including the Parador Hotel, the only hotel around which is run by the beautiful Allison Stratton.

Safe Passage

10th October 1998

Episode 2

Jenner is hospitalized with a mysterious virus infection and is growingly suspicious towards Stanley. Meanwhile, Rio is back in Buenaventura and gets aquainted with Allison Stratton, the new manager of the Parador Hotel. Allison detests Wiley and disagrees with the way he and Rio conduct their flights. She wants them to improve the look of the airport and give the tourists a better first impression so they'll want to stay at her hotel. Rio refuses to believe his father is dead and one night he is approached by a mysterious woman. She gives him Frank's pin and claims Frank gave this to a woman in trouble who needs Rio's help. Later, when Rio talks about the mystery woman, Pablo the mechanic tells him this must be 'la curandera', a strange woman who suddenly appears when people are in need of help. Her real name is Alma. The corrupt Stanley arrives in Buenaventura and meets up with his associate, State Department official Edward Furman. They go after Isabella, who is in possession of Hec

Old Gold

23rd January 1999

Episode 3

Somewhere in Costa Perdida, an old gold treasure is buried. At least that is what Vietnam vet Al Craven - an old war buddy of Rio's father Frank - claims. Rio is suspicious towards Craven and with good reason it turns out.

Fever

5th December 1998

Episode 4

Costa Perdida is struck by a virus epidemic. The government is doing nothing to stop the disease. On the contrary, they are doing all they can to cover up the epidemic. The only ones battling the deadly killer-virus are Rio, Wiley and sexy epidemic-expert Dr. Harley Shaw. Suddenly, Rio starts getting the symptoms of the disease...

The Witness

16th January 1999

Episode 5

In a park, a teenager named Henry witnesses a diplomat being assassinated. This puts Henry's own life in jeopardy: the government is dead-set on avoiding a political crisis and want to pass off the diplomat's death as a suicide. Rio and Wiley are brought in to bring Henry to safety but he gets kidnapped. Rio does all he can to rescue the boy.

The Cure

7th November 1998

Episode 6

Beautiful scientist Dr. Katrina Young is assigned by a pharmasuitical company to search for healing plants in the primeval forrest. But Katrina can even chalk down her initial results, the research camp is blown up in an explosion. The company calls Katrina back home and she turns to Rio and Wiley for help. They quickly get their hands full and just barely manage to save Katrina from a murder attempt.

Till Death

28th November 1998

Episode 7

Annie is on the run from her ex-husband Rick, a violent, alcoholic marine. She seeks protection from Rio, and the two start an affair. But with dramatic consequences.

Crosshairs

17th October 1998

Episode 8

Lucie Ortega, a beautiful nightclub singer at the Club Saludos, contacts Rio for help. She needs to leave Buenaventura immediately to be with her sick mother in the Andes but cannot leave unless her boss at the club pays her the 75 million Pesos he owes her. Rio - not knowing that Lucie has been sent to him by the always unreliable Furman - naturally agrees to help an attractive damsell in distress, and goes to the Club Saludos and gets the money from Lucie's boss, Mesarigos. Shortly afterwards, Mesarigos is found murdered, and Lucie and the money have vanished. Rio, who was Mesarigos' last visitor, gets charged with murder.

The Hit

14th November 1998

Episode 9

Rio and Wiley are ordered by Furman to protect the life of Ramon Estrada, a filthy gangster in Buenaventura, who has made enemies in the mob. Furman wants to protect him because Estrada has proven himself to be a useful snitch. An assassin is coming to Costa Perdida to end his life. Wiley sets up secret video cameras in all the rooms at the Parador Hotel to try and figure out which of the new guests is the killer. But Estrada has many enemies, and finding the real assissin turns out to be difficult.

Blown Away

Episode 10

Renowned and ambitious reporter Molly Murphy hires Rio to fly her to Concho so she can interview the famous land owner Emilio Correno. What looks like a purely routine flight, quickly becomes dangerous when Rio discovers that the gas tank has been tampered with. The helicopter threatens to crash...

American Gulag

Episode 11

An old man - allegedly a Dutchman - arrives in Buenaventura. In reality, though, he is the Russian Nicolai Vyshenko, a former politician under Stalin and a notorious killer. Recently, Vyshenko has turned to another field of activity: along with his son, he now leads a camp on the island, in which young children a trained to become killers. Rio and Wiley set out to put and end to this.

Red Sub

Episode 12

Rio and Wiley are alarmed when Russian arms-dealer Victor shows up in Buenaventura to meet with a drug boss. Their concerns are certainly justified: a Russian naval base report one of their submarines as missing. Rio and Wiley must risk their lives in order to stop Victor's dangerous dealings.

Seller's Market

31st October 1998

Episode 13

When a satellite accidentally crashes into the jungle, Jenner asks Rio to accompany the recovery team on their retrieval mission. One of the expedition members is Dr. Marie Deschaux, the sexy French scientist who designed the satellite. Marie has ulterior motives for wanting to get to the satellite so quickly: she has secretly used plutonium in the satellite, so she is intent on killing everyone who finds out. Rio reluctantly has to help her find it before the plutonium kills thousands of innocent people.

Lost City

3rd October 1998

Episode 14

For several hundred years there's been a near mythical story in Buenaventura - about a large treasure of gold that can be found in the so-called ""lost city"". Eva Bergeron, a beautiful German archeologist, has an old map and hires Rio to help her look for the treasure. However, Carlos Rey De Lupos, the Minister of Antiquities, wants the map for himself and kidnaps Eva. Rio prepares to rescue Eva but finds out that she hasn't been completely honest: she's no archeologist...

The Rescue

27th March 1999

Episode 15

A woman hires Rio and Wiley to rescue her daughter Carmen, who has been kidnapped by her father, a Buenaventuran drug kingpin.

Hostage Situation

10th October 1998

Episode 16

Shortly before the local election is to take place in Buenaventura is to take place, the political situation is tense. The governement - led by the brutal General Carlato - desperstely tries to hold on to the power, so a group of revolutionaries take over the Parador Hotel; the hostages including Alison and her visiting (and rather unsympathetic) father. Rio faces a difficult task as he tries to solve the conflict peacefully.

Abduction

24th October 1998

Episode 17

Multi-millionaire William Dayton (a friend of Alison's father) arrives in Buenaventura to discuss taking over Rio's route. Rio, however, is more concerned about why local villagers are disappearing at an alarming rate. When his good friend Alma, the local medicine woman, disappears too, a concerned Rio enlists Wiley's help. They uncover a conspiracy to kidnap villagers to take their organs and sell them on the black market.

The Miracle

27th March 1999

Episode 18

The beautiful Elisa McCarran convinces Rio to help search for her missing husband. Elisa's doctor husband was on a rescue mission when his plane went down, and he has now officially been declared dead. The search proves perilous, and the forthcoming solar eclipe is just one of the reasons for this.

Rebound

7th November 1998

Episode 19

The American Ambassador in Buenaventura is blackmailed by corrupt industrial Mark McCormick. McCormick demands that his son, Peter, be given this political post. Peter himself, however, has no interest in a political career. All he wants is to be happy with his fiancÃ©e Jennifer. Jennifer is an old flame of Rio's, and when the two of them meet, the old passion is re-ignited.

Heartbreak Hotel

Episode 20

After many years absence, physician Marco Ramos returns to Costa Perdida to care for his heart-sick mother. However, Marco's brother Reynaldo cannot forgive Marco for having abandoned him and their mother all those years ago, and wants to kill him in revenge. Rio and Wiley must try to prevent a bloodbath.

Engraved Danger

6th February 1999

Episode 21

A left-wing extremist group rob a money transport and get away with printing plates for $100 bills. Rio and Wiley are ordered to seek out the robbers in their hiding place in the jungle. However, both Rio and Wiley end up captured, and learn they will face an execution squadron tomorrow...

Fear of Flying

30th January 1999

Episode 22

Wiley suddenly faces a problem he has never encountered before: the experienced pilot is suddenly afraid of flying! A puzzled Rio brings Wiley to see Dr. Veronica Brady, a sexy psychiatrist. Veronica discovers that Wiley is under the influence of the dangerous drug Phanx Am. But how has Wiley gotten this drug in his body?

Catch-23

13th February 1999

Episode 23

Otani, a corrupt member of the OSI, sends out a group of soldiers to track down and kill Rio's father Frank, who is hiding in the jungle. Rio manages to locate his father before the soldiers, and finds Frank badly wounded in a hut. Frank reveals the true for why 'Operation Jaguar' failed, which is the reason he has gone in hiding.

High Noon in Costa Perdida

21st November 1998

Episode 24

Fantini, the world champion in 'Ultimate Fighting' shows up in Buenaventura wanting to buy the whole island to turn it into a holiday paradise. He uses brutal violence to reach his goal but gets challenged by Rio and Wiley.

The Court Martial of Rio Arnett

27th February 1999

Episode 25

Rio is court-marshaled; suspected of having traded stolen arms with the enemy. The testimony of OSI director Willard Jenner could save Rio from the death sentence but Jenner is nowhere to be found. Wiley starts a desperate search to re-find Jenner, while the noose quickly tightens around Rio's neck...

Eye of the Storm

20th February 1999

Episode 26

An enormous hurricane threatens Costa Perdida. Rio and Wiley bring the villagers to safety, while they themselves take cover in a safe building. Suddenly, Rio's arch enemy, ex-OSI Officer Henry Stanley shows up. Will Rio finally be able to properly confront the traitor once and for all?

Top Cast

Lorenzo Lamas•Scott Plank•Diana Barton

Air America is an American action/adventure television series starring Lorenzo Lamas, and premiering on October 4, 1998. The series is not based on the 1990 film Air America.

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Full Cast

Lorenzo Lamas Image

Lorenzo Lamas

Rio Arnett

Scott Plank Image

Scott Plank

Wiley Ferrell

Diana Barton Image

Diana Barton

Alison Stratton

Arthur Roberts Image

Arthur Roberts

Jenner

Full Crew

Jim McGrath

Executive Co-Producer

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