Each year, SouthWings recognizes those who stand out in support of our mission to elevate environmental issues across the Gulf and Southeastern United States. In October, SouthWings gathered in Lookout Mountain, GA to celebrate the organization’s 30th Anniversary at our Volunteer Pilot Appreciation Fly-In. This is a time for our volunteer pilots to gather, learn from each other and about the environmentalinitiatives that their flights support.
The greater Chattanooga area holds special significance for the organization because it is where the organization was founded in 1996. Early flights involved exposing clearcutting on the Cumberland Plateau, and later expanded to supporting environmental issuesacross the Gulf and Southeastern United States.
This year, SouthWings introduced a special award to the lineup. The Legacy Award honors those who have servedSouthWings' mission for 20 years or more. SouthWings co-founders Hume Davenport (Hendersonville, NC) and Jay Mills (Chattanooga, TN) were recognized as the inaugural Legacy Awardees. Thirty years later, their legacy lives on as a vital partner in the environmental movement elevating important advocacy efforts, 84 volunteer pilots strong!
Other 2026 SouthWings VolunteerPilot Award recipients include:
Dynamic Duo
Christopher and Justine Noth(Tampa, FL), for their teamwork in capturing important imagery for environmental advocacy partners throughout the Gulf. Justine takes beautiful aerial photos while Christopher pilots their plane.
Rookie of the Year
Gabriel Rincon (Baton Rouge, LA),for jumping right in after he joined SouthWings in 2025. He has supported community groups, media, documentarians, and other partners with eight flights in the last year.
Rookie of the Year
Clinton Jones (Santa Rosa Beach, FL),for his deep care and concern for the planet, his willingness to complete several important flights including documenting an oil spill in the Gulf, and his desire to continue to do more.
Pelican Award
Eric Jakimier (Dallas, TX), for his undying enthusiasm and dedication to supporting partners in Louisiana, the Pelican State. He joined SouthWings in 2023, and since then has flown from his home in Dallas to complete 13 volunteer flights in Louisiana.
Above and Beyond
David Warner (Carbondale, IL), for his extraordinary effort to provide flights to expose unpermitted activities at data centers over the past several years.
About SouthWings
SouthWings is a nonprofit organization that connects volunteer pilots with environmental initiatives that benefit from a birds-eye-view. SouthWings currently has 84 volunteer pilots stationed across the Southeastern US.
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, SouthWings operates in 15 states in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations to enhance the work of the conservation and environmental justice movements through aerial perspectives.
SouthWings partners with conservation groups,community groups, media, and decision-makers to provide a unique perspective to better understand and solve pressing environmental issues in the Southeast. All flights are free of charge thanks to the generosity of the volunteer pilots, granting foundations, and individual donors.
