Were you thinking moving trigger zone with AWACS?
That's how I've solved it with an added AND unit alitude more than statement. Still, it would be such a time saver if GAI worked or the ME was user friendly, ie.
If BLUE coalition units type AIR inside zone X activate unit Y - with the ability to copy paste each link of the statement.
At this point, I am waiting for the modders to save the ME. Don't get me wrong, I love making the mission, I just have other things to do with my life as well :)
It seems we aren't too far away from someone being able to program a persistent world for us - which would be more than awesome. Too stiff as is now.