The WINGS Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study on how military aviation—particularly high-performance flying and exposure to extreme G-forces—affects the long-term brain health and mental health of veteran pilots and aircrew members. The study will examine connections between cumulative flight hours and conditions like traumatic brain injury, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicide risk, and neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Parkinson's disease. The VA will also establish a centralized registry to track health data from participating military aviators over time and will consult with the Department of Defense, military surgeons general, and academic institutions with expertise in aviation medicine and neuroscience. The legislation requires an interim report to Congress within one year and a final report within three years, along with recommendations for improved monitoring, prevention, and treatment of aviation-related neurological injuries. The bill provides no specific funding amount in the text presented, leaving appropriations to be determined through the standard budget process.
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