Moose,

Give it a break.

If you were a new startup, where would you fly just three A/C - somewhere other than a profitable 5 year contract with KAL?

If you're looking for a contract and union as a job qualifier, don't even look at the third level ACMI carriers for a job. Go for the majors. Look what the unions have done there - ask Polar and Atlas; ask Delta about their retirement and 50% pay cuts; ask AA about their paycuts and their managers bonus, on and on.

I was a union member at a major for 25 years, but I don't advise you to pursue ACMI airlines if union/contract is a concern for you - you'll just give yourself (and your fellow crewmembers) a miserable time.

If you're in the C-17 at McChord, ask around - a couple of guys there fly for Cargo 360. They'll tell you all about it.