Step 1 : Introduction to the question "1. My cousin Stosh called and wants to come and visit with Beauford, but at the moment, his plans are 'up in the air'. What is that?"
...1. he has several options he must consider 2. he needs to ask his wife Hortense 3. he's going skydiving 4. he's not crazy about seeing Beauford, anyway This one is difficult to track. There seems to be little or no information to the origin of 'up in the air', but it is a common phrase and has been in use in the midwest, at least, for 50 years or more.