Air America was an airline covertly owned and operated by the CIA to conduct critical life-saving missions in designated war zones
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Air America Act of 2023 – bipartisan legislation providing retirement benefits to 30 Arizonans who worked for Air America, an airline covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to conduct critical life-saving missions in designated war zones.
“I’m working to ensure the 30 Air America Arizonans who bravely served our country conducting covert, life-saving missions in designated war zones receive the federal retirement benefits they have earned,” said Sinema.
From 1950-1976, Air America was a government-owned corporation that conducted covert operations during the Cold War, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Air America employees worked under direct policy guidance of the White House, Department of Defense, and Department of State while under the management of the CIA. Because of its covert nature, Air America’s employees were never granted eligibility for government retirement programs.
Air America employed several hundred U.S. citizens, mainly flight crew members– 286 of whom were killed in the line of duty while conducting covert operations in designated war zones. The last helicopter mission that rescued personnel from rooftops in Saigon in 1975 was planned and executed by Air America and the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Air America Act of 2023 would authorize the CIA to dispense a total of $60 million to provide federal retirement civil service benefits to former Air Americans – and their families – with five or more years of qualifying service. The surviving family members of Air America employees that have passed away would be able to apply for federal retirement civil service benefits as well. Former employees of affiliated companies that were also managed and operated by the CIA, along with their families, would also be eligible for federal retirement benefits from the CIA. These companies include but are not limited to: Intermountain Aviation, Air East Asia Company Limited, and Civil Air Transport Incorporated.
Building on Sinema’s bipartisan work to ensure all Arizona servicemembers get the care and benefits they have earned, the Air America Act of 2023 returns earned retirement benefits to the approximate 350 still living former Air America employees and employees of affiliated companies or their families – approximately 30 of whom are Arizonans.