Now I have read it again, this letter is pure psychopath stuff. It uses some of the most commonly employed techniques one might use to get the weaker minded individuals in our society to strongly align themselves with the "leadership".
"We consider this a very special honour as it means you have been assessed to have among the best technical/academic aptitudes amid the thousands of applications we have on record"
Lets break that opening salvo down:
"Very special honour"- You are indeed privileged, we the company bestow greatness upon you, don't let us down.
"You have been assessed"- We have poured over your application, we have invested ourselves in you and your academia, we consider you (yes you) important to the future of this company, we are taking you seriously.
"Among the best technical/academic aptitudes"- Only the best of the best need apply here, and you fit the bill, you have the right stuff!
"Thousands of applications we have on record"- Introduces a sense of urgency, you must not dally about here, we have been very busy assessing all those other possible high achievers. Who knows who might get your spot? It also insinuates that we are a very popular place to work, very exclusive.
Just the opening sentences, and it is riddled with some extraordinary connotations. Who wouldn't want to apply here? That's the first filter, anyone who is still interested will now be softened up with several more paragraphs of very suggestive words and phrases. Life changing, commit, company minded (note the Capital in Company), fiercely loyal etc.....
"Above and beyond the call of duty"- We will rely on you as we do any other hero. Filling you with pride.
"Especially in time of need for the Company"- We may be in for a struggle at some point for which we will need good, solid men and women. Lays out the mission and hints at the soft underbelly which you will be helping to protect.
"We have encountered many Cadets in the past who promised us the Earth in order to be selected"- Would you do this?
"But once selected they very quickly show their true colours"- Now let's start weeding out the pretenders from the players. Are you really that soft, that weak as to be duplicitous in our time of need?
The list goes on and on. I could go all day, but by the end of this letter, the reader has been put on a pedestal multiple times, given the mission, given the impending doom story and finally threatened with a stunted career if you subsequently slip into lucidity and have yourself an independent thought.
Some question the safety aspect of this letter, but all I see in this letter is call to arms for the purely aspirational; those who want to belong and feel wanted. Easily impressionable young men and women who will do anything to fly a turboprop, launch their airline career and go on to aviation's' higher echelons. And it is very cleverly done without once explicitly stating what will be expected of you once you join the ranks of the privileged.
So the threats you ask? Traditionally airline pilots were expected to be critical thinkers, people motivated by getting it right even if it meant doing something unpopular. This letter surreptitiously filters out those who would do that by bestowing an air of importance on those who would modify their decisions based on company wishes, a hint of job security and career progression. If that doesn't represent a significant risk to safety given of the impressionable minds it is aimed at, then nothing does.