The application requirements for Western Airlines pilot positions require candidates to have logged at least 200 hours piloting an aircraft within the previous 36 months. In addition, applicants must have 2,500 hours of experience in the air with at least 1,000 hours as the commanding pilot of a commercial airplane. A four-year college degree is also required. Wallace Roberts, who is African-American, applied for a position as a pilot and was rejected because he has a degree from a 2-year college and only 2,000 hours of flight experience. Jeff is suing Western Airlines for discriminatory hiring practices.

Which of the following, if true, best supports Western Airlines' defense?

A) The total number of hours spent flying a commercial airline is a valid predictor of performance for most Western Airlines pilots.

B) Recent experiences with college recruiting have led Western Airlines to increase the percentage of its minority pilots.

C) Job capability as a Western Airlines pilot depends most heavily on age, gender, and previous job experiences.

D) Western Airlines bases its selection tests and hiring practices on industry guidelines for commercial pilots.