How to Write an Aviation Cover Letter

It probably won’t apply to all jobs in the industry, but a cover letter a good way to distinguish yourself from the pack.

Sam Weigel

Friday, April 01, 2022 at 03:03 PM ET

Verified

[File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Cover letters, though less critical for large airline applications, are highly important for corporate roles, smaller companies, unsolicited applications, and networking, serving to personalize your candidacy and elaborate on your resume beyond basic qualifications.
The letter should be a concise, one-page business document that is personalized for each job, written in a semi-formal tone, and meticulously proofread for clarity and accuracy, enlisting help if necessary.
Structure the letter with an introduction stating your purpose and demonstrating company knowledge, middle paragraphs expanding on your relevant experience and unique value (avoiding simple resume repetition), and a concluding paragraph that includes a clear call to action for an interview.

See a mistake? Contact us.

So far in this series, we have covered how to write an aviation resume and how to apply for a pilot job online. There is a third career media skill that is important to know, though it won’t apply to all positions, and that is how to write a cover letter.

The cover letter may seem like a bit of an anachronism, and in some ways it is. Few large airlines ask for one anymore; you may have noticed that the AirlineApps base application doesn’t even allow you to attach a cover letter (or a resume, for that matter). At large airlines doing a great deal of hiring, the process is quite data-driven, and the computer that spits out your name to be interviewed by a human will have zero appreciation of a well-crafted cover letter. Still, even at these companies you will bring your resume to the interview, and this should be accompanied by a cover letter—even if it seems destined to languish, unread, in the interviewer’s file folder.