Originally Posted by Regularguy

Actually those were changed because of lawsuits against UAL and then someone “saw the light.”

The whole degree thing is simply a function of filter applicants. At a time when they need to hire 300 and there are 10,000 “qualified” applicants on file an objective and easy to defend system is required. Filtering out people by higher education is simple and defendable in court.

Don’t forget the UAL filtering system is some sort of weighted computerized point measure, that does include both formal education and life experience. UAL does weight experience highly, as is often seen in numbers of relatively low time military pilots hired who have taught, and led others during their service.

As the need for pilots continues non-degree pilots will get hired and they will be the ones who became check pilots, base chiefs, and basically excelled amongst their peers.

Of course they could also be someone who dogged out 20k in hours flying worn out cargo airplanes in the worst conditions possible. The school of hard knocks.

If you’re young, get a degree.