Air America was the CIA's private airline operating in Laos during the Vietnam War, running anything and everything from soldiers to foodstuffs for local villagers. After losing his pilot's license, Billy Covington is recruited, and ends up in the middle of a bunch of lunatic pilots, gun-running by his friend Gene Ryack, and opium smuggling by his own superiors.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Mel GibsonGene Ryack | Gene Ryack |
 Robert Downey Jr.Billy Covington | Billy Covington |
 Nancy TravisCorinne Landreaux | Corinne Landreaux |
 Ken JenkinsMajor Donald Lemond | Major Donald Lemond |
 David Marshall GrantRob Diehl | Rob Diehl |
 Lane SmithSenator Davenport | Senator Davenport |
 Art LaFleurJack Neely | Jack Neely |
 Ned EisenbergPirelli | Pirelli |
 Marshall BellO.V. | O.V. |
 David BoweSaunders | Saunders |
 Burt KwoukGeneral Lu Soong | General Lu Soong |
 Tim ThomersonBabo | Babo |
 Harvey JasonNino | Nino |
| NNatta NantatantiGene's Daughter | Gene's Daughter |
| PPurin PanichpanGene's Son | Gene's Son |
 Yanee TramothGene's Brother-in-law | Gene's Brother-in-law |
 Ernie LivelyTruck Driver | Truck Driver |
 Burke ByrnesRecruiter | Recruiter |
 Michael DudikoffGeneral Lee (uncredited) | General Lee (uncredited) |
 Sinjai PlengpanichMay Ling | May Ling |
 Wasan UttamayothinNightclub Singer | Nightclub Singer |