Embarking on your quest to land the dream role as an airline pilot, you've diligently submitted résumés only to realize a standout cover letter is your missing co-pilot. This isn't the place to simply echo your résumé; it’s your opportunity to weave your proudest professional moment into a compelling narrative. Let's craft a cover letter that avoids clichés and captures attention within the formal one-page limit, setting you up to soar above the competition.
- Personalize the greeting to address the recruiter and your introduction that fits the role;
- Follow good examples for individual roles and industries from job-winning cover letters;
- Decide on your most noteworthy achievement to stand out;
- Format, download, and submit your airline pilot cover letter, following the best HR practices.
Use the power of Enhancv's AI: drag and drop your airline pilot resume, which will swiftly be converted into your job-winning cover letter.
If the airline pilot isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Airline Pilot cover letter example
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- Highlighting specific achievements relevant to the role, such as the fuel optimization initiative at American Airlines, showcases measurable impacts and implies analytical and cost-saving skills.
- Emphasizing adherence to safety and service quality demonstrates an understanding of the fundamental priorities in the aviation industry, which is critical for a Commercial Pilot position.
- Expressing alignment with the company’s values and mission statement shows that the candidate has done their research and is genuinely interested in the role and the company’s culture.
- Mentioning the readiness to contribute to the airline’s sustainability objectives indicates forward-thinking and a commitment to industry-relevant challenges and trends.
What are the basics of the design or format of your airline pilot cover letter?
To start, here's a reminder for you: the Applicant Tracker System (or software that is used to assess candidate profiles), won't be reading your airline pilot cover letter.
Recruiters enjoy reading airline pilot cover letters with a standardized format that uses:
- the same font as the resume (e.g. modern ones like Raleway or Volkhov are prefered over the clichéd Times New Roman or Arial);
- single spacing to keep the content concise and organized (this is all ready for you in our cover letter templates);
- a one-inch margin to wrap around the text, like in our cover letter builder;
- PDF as a file format, as it allows your design (and visual element) to stay the same.
Finally, we can't go on without mentioning the key sections of your airline pilot cover letter.
In the top one-third, make sure to include a header (with your contact information, name, role, and date), a salutation, and an introduction.
Next, follows the heart and soul of your airline pilot cover letter or its body.
End your airline pilot cover letter with a closing paragraph and, if you wish, a signature.
The top sections on a airline pilot cover letter
- Header: This should include the pilot's full name, address, phone number, email, and the date, ensuring the recruiter has immediate access to contact information and can quickly identify the applicant.
- Greeting: The greeting should be professionally addressed to the chief pilot, hiring manager, or recruitment team to personalize the cover letter and show that the pilot has researched the airline.
- Introduction: In the introduction, the pilot should briefly mention their total flying hours, licenses, and any specific type of aircraft they are experienced in, as these are critical details in the aviation industry that recruiters look for at first glance.
- Professional Experience: A section on professional experience should highlight relevant flying experience, safety records, and any commendations or awards, as airlines value pilots with a proven track record of reliability and excellence.
- Closing: The closing should reiterate the pilot's enthusiasm for the opportunity to fly with the airline, underscore their commitment to safety and professionalism, and include a call to action, inviting the recruiter to review the enclosed resume and arrange an interview.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Extensive flight experience and a strong record of safe flying: Demonstrates a pilot's familiarity with various aircraft and ability to handle a wide range of in-flight situations with a commitment to safety.
Current pilot certifications and ratings: Indicates the applicant meets the regulatory requirements to operate the specific aircraft for the airline, such as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.
Exceptional situational awareness and decision-making skills: Essential for responding to changing flight conditions, emergencies, and ensuring passenger safety.
Outstanding communication and teamwork abilities: Crucial for coordinating with co-pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, and air traffic control to ensure smooth operations.
Knowledge of aviation regulations and a commitment to compliance: Ensures adherence to industry standards, legal requirements, and airline policies.
Physical and mental fitness: Required to endure the demands of long flights, irregular hours, and the need to remain alert and focused during critical flight phases.
Greeting recruiters with your airline pilot cover letter salutation
What better way to start your conversation with the hiring manager, than by greeting them?
Take the time to find out who the professional, recruiting for the role, is.
Search on LinkedIn, the company website. And for those still keen on making a fantastic first impression, you could even contact the organization, asking for the recruiter's name and more details about the job.
Address recruiters in the airline pilot greeting by either their first name or last name. (e.g. "Dear Anthony" or "Dear Ms. Smarts").
If you're unable to discover the recruiter's name - don't go for the impersonal "To whom it may concern", but instead use "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear Captain [Last Name],
- Dear Chief Pilot,
- Dear [Airline Name] Recruitment Team,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Director of Flight Operations,
Your airline pilot cover letter introduction and the value you bring
Moving on from the "Dear Recruiter" to your professional introduction.
Use those first two sentences of your airline pilot cover letter to present the biggest asset you'd bring to the organization.
Don't go into too much detail about your achievement or the skill set, but instead - go straight for the win.
That is - what is your value as a professional?
Would you be able to build stronger, professional relationships in any type of communication? Or, potentially, integrate seamlessly into the team?
Choosing your best achievement for the middle or body of your airline pilot cover letter
Now that you have the recruiters' attention, it's time to write the chunkiest bit of your airline pilot cover letter.
The body consists of three to six paragraphs that focus on one of your achievements.
Use your past success to tell a story of how you obtained your most job-crucial skills and know-how (make sure to back these up with tangible metrics).
Another excellent idea for your airline pilot cover letter's middle paragraphs is to shine a light on your unique professional value.
Write consistently and make sure to present information that is relevant to the role.
Two ideas on how to end the final paragraph of your airline pilot cover letter
Closing your airline pilot cover letter, you want to leave a memorable impression on recruiters, that you're a responsible professional.
End your cover letter with how you envision your growth, as part of the company. Make realistic promises on what you plan to achieve, potentially, in the next six months to a year.
Before your signature, you could also signal hiring managers that you're available for the next steps. Or, a follow-up call, during which you could further clarify your experience or professional value.
Addressing limited to no experience in the airline pilot cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your airline pilot cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
We hope this airline pilot cover letter writing guide has shown you how to:
- Format your airline pilot cover letter with the mandatory sections (e.g. header, greeting, intro, body, and closing) and select the right font (P.S. It should be the same as the one you've used for your resume);
- Substitute your lack of professional experience with your most noteworthy achievement, outside of work, or your dreams and passions;
- Ensure recruiters have a more personalized experience by tailoring your cover letter not just to the role, but to them (e.g. writing their first/last name in the salutation, etc.);
- Introducing your biggest achievement and the skills it has taught you in your airline pilot cover letter body;
- Write no more than two sentences in your airline pilot cover letter introduction to set the right tone from the get-go.
