Originally Posted by
Itsajob
They may qualify, but most likely won’t make the cut. United wants a 4 year degree. I tried to help a friend get on who has multiple type ratings but only a 2 year degree. They said no thanks. Other than being able to check the box on an application I have never used my degree or even been asked a single question about college in any airline interview. Until they run out of qualified applicants with the degree I don’t expect things to change. So for now 3,000 hours and a degree is better than 15,000 and no degree.
My line of thought starting out was that the majors wanted a degree. I knew I would have to have one to be competitive, so I got the degree. My GPA is horrible, but I can check the box. That and a whole lot of luck has landed a pretty good career.
Pretty accurate summary.
I have a friend at UAL who has no college. Period. Not because he didn't have the ability or was lazy. He just said it wasn't for him. He made up for the lack of college by teaching ground school for 121/135 airplanes (regional with 121 and 135 turboprops), LCA, and flight instruction in the planes. He was immersed in the training and certification of pilots as well as a line pilot. Great guy with great attitude and abilities.
I can't speak for him but I bet he would tell you it is easier to get on with UAL if you are in the group of 99% instead of the group of 1%.
While he might have been in the group of 1% without a degree he is definitely somewhere in the top percent of the pilot group.
Good luck.