Originally Posted by
FlyerBeek
Again, it's not about a direct correlation between reading Chaucer and flying a Cat III approach (which is actually quite easy since you're not typically hand-flying most Cat IIIs). Rather, it's about a correlation between being able to successfully complete an undergraduate degree program and being able to make it through Part 121 flight training without difficulties.
-FlyerBeek
There's also a correlation between being born to a wealthy family, to college educated parents, or being white or asian and completing a college degree. When you look at pilots specifically, the minority representation is
very skewed from the general US population. By removing the degree requirements but keeping the skills tests and relevant experience requirements the same, it helps the candidate pool become more representative of the labor force by not removing qualified candidates whose circumstances did not allow for a 4-year degree. I would say this is even more true for aviation degrees where lab and flight fees tack on huge costs that are not easily covered via financial support
In my experience this degree requirement removal is a corporate wide push across many industries right now, not just for pilots or at AA.