Glen Purdam

Glen Purdam, born 1987, is an Australian contract pilot working in Aerial Firefighting and Ferry Flights. He completed a Bachelor of Applied Sciences - Civil Aviation degree in 2010 at the University of South Australia.

Glen was the receipt of the Col Pay scholarship in 2010, getting his Aerial Application Rating in 2011 and Fire Fighting endorsement in 2017. He continues to have academic involvement, providing aerial firefighting expertise for W. Chalabi at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre.

Glen began his career in aviation working on Safety Management Systems for the Aerial Application Association of Australia in 2010, before beginning agricultural flying in 2011. Since then he accrued 5000 hours, the majority of which in the low level environment. In recognition of his work in the 2019/2020 fires he was awarded the Australian National Emergency Medal and A.C.T. Emergency Medal.

Glen holds a Single Engine Turbine, and Multi Engine Piston IFR  in both EASA and Australian licences. In 2024 he holds a chief pilot position in an Arial Fire Fighting division, and ferries planes between Australia and Greece.

He moved to Norway in 2020, and lives in Vestby.

Glen worked as a sound / lights technician and "roadie" before his aviation career.