Elliot Caldwell Crawford

Elliot Caldwell Crawford is a highly respected Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and a cornerstone of the Colorado aviation community, operating primarily out of Vance Brand Airport in Longmont. With an aviation career spanning more than 55 years, he was recently distinguished as a recipient of the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, a testament to his half-century of safe and professional flight operations. Crawford’s credentials include an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and Gold Seal Flight Instructor ratings (CFI, CFII, MEI, and CFIG), reflecting his broad expertise across single-engine, multi-engine, and glider categories.

Throughout his tenure, Crawford has become a specialist in tailwheel operations and glider towing, frequently conducting checkrides at both Boulder and Longmont airports. Before focusing on his role as a DPE, he spent decades as a professional flight instructor and tow pilot, amassing thousands of flight hours in the challenging high-altitude environments of the Rocky Mountains. He is widely recognized for his fair yet thorough examination style and his active role as an FAASTeam representative. His commitment to safety is evident in his unblemished record and his dedication to mentoring pilots through seminars on complex airport operations and standardized procedures.