SouthWings Honors Volunteer Pilots at Georgia Fly-In
The conservation group recognized volunteer aviators at its 30th anniversary event on Lookout Mountain, introducing a new Legacy Award.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Bird Watching
SouthWings, a conservation organization founded in 1996 to expose clearcutting on the Cumberland Plateau, recognized volunteer pilots at its 30th Anniversary Fly-In at Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The event introduced the Legacy Award, which honors members who have supported the mission for more than 20 years.
Why it matters
SouthWings relies on a network of 84 volunteer pilots to provide aerial perspectives for environmental initiatives across the Gulf and Southeastern United States. Recognizing long-serving and high-output volunteers highlights the role of private aviation in conservation monitoring in Georgia and the wider region.
SouthWings' organizational records list 84 volunteer pilots, with Eric Jakimier logging 13 volunteer missions across Louisiana since 2023. The source does not specify how many total flight hours the network logged or the outcome of those missions.
The players
SouthWings
SouthWings is a conservation organization founded in 1996 that uses volunteer pilots to document environmental damage across the Southeastern United States and Gulf Coast.
Hume Davenport
Hume Davenport of Hendersonville, North Carolina, was named an inaugural recipient of SouthWings' Legacy Award for long-term volunteer service.
Jay Mills
Jay Mills of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was named an inaugural recipient of SouthWings' Legacy Award for more than two decades of support.
The details
At the fly-in, SouthWings named Hume Davenport of Hendersonville, North Carolina, and Jay Mills of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the first Legacy Award recipients. Other honorees included Christopher and Justine Noth of Tampa, Florida, who received the Dynamic Duo award, and David Warner of Carbondale, Illinois, recognized for flights documenting unpermitted activities at regional data centers.
Timeline
1996: SouthWings is founded to expose clearcutting on the Cumberland Plateau.
2023: Eric Jakimier begins his volunteer missions across Louisiana.
2025: Gabriel Rincon completes eight flights and is named Rookie of the Year.
2026: SouthWings holds its 30th Anniversary Volunteer Pilot Appreciation Fly-In.
Seasonal Patterns
SouthWings was founded in 1996 to expose clearcutting on the Cumberland Plateau, and its three decades of aerial monitoring now extend across the Gulf and Southeastern states. The organization's volunteer-pilot model places it within a long tradition of citizen-driven environmental documentation in the region.
Georgia residents interested in aerial conservation work can learn how volunteer pilots contribute to monitoring efforts across the state and region. Those with private aircraft and an interest in environmental documentation may find SouthWings' volunteer program a point of entry.
The takeaway
Volunteer conservation often depends on people who contribute their own time and equipment over many years. Recognition programs like the Legacy Award highlight how sustained participation keeps long-running environmental monitoring active.
Further reading
For more on the outdoor side of conservation, explore Bird Watching in Georgia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by General Aviation News.
