[quote=KC10 FATboy;475034]...wouldn't you consider government contractors as employees of the US Government? [qoute]
No, can you decipher a difference between a DEA Agent, an FBI agent, A CIA agent, a military officer, and a Blackwater contractor? The money that goes into their bank account all originates from the US Gov't, but the route it takes before it gets there is pretty different. The name of the employer on the paycheck stub of one of these people is different than the rest. As far as the Geneva Conventions, someone who is flying cargo for the gov't in as a FedEx employee is treated differently than when that same person is flying cargo in on a C-17 as a USAF Reserve officer. It may be quibbling to you, but reality is the difference is large.
As an analogy, I would think that ALPA would have something to say if a domestic FedEx MD-11 was flown by a Mountain Air Cargo pilot vs a FedEx seniority list pilot. Even though the person on the street would see little difference, as the funds in both of their paychecks originate at FedEx Express Corp, the difference to those in the know is large.