H.R. 4805 — WINGS Act

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, Surgeons General of the military departments, Director of the Defense Health Agency, and relevant experts, to conduct a comprehensive longitudinal study on the long-term physiological and psychological effects of military aviation—including high-performance flight and G-force exposure—on military aviators. The study must examine, at a minimum, (1) relationships between cumulative flight hours, G-force exposure, and traumatic brain injury, sub-concussive trauma, or cognitive impairment; (2) mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) compared to other Armed Forces members; (3) correlations with suicide risk; (4) prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions (e.g., chronic traumatic encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease); (5) effects of helmet design, oxygen systems, flight suits, and cockpit factors; (6) current screening and diagnostic procedures; and (7) recommended improvements in monitoring, prevention, and treatment. This section also requires the Secretary to establish and maintain a centralized Military Aviator Neurohealth Registry containing anonymized voluntary participant data on health outcomes, flight exposure metrics (e.g., hours, G-force profiles), and longitudinal follow-up; submit an interim report to Congress within one year of enactment and a final report within three years; and defines "military aviator" as veterans designated as pilots, naval aviators, or aircrew who operated specified high-performance fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., F-35, F-22, A-10, V-22) subject to sustained G-forces.