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Capitol Hill renews focus on cancer rates among Aviator and Missileer personnel

Lawmakers in Congress are advocating for increased transparency regarding cancer cases among military pilots and missile operators.

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Capitol Hill Revisits Elevated Cancer Rates Among Aviators and Missileers
Capitol Hill Revisits Elevated Cancer Rates Among Aviators and Missileers

Capitol Hill renews focus on cancer rates among Aviator and Missileer personnel

The U.S. Congress has passed the Aviators Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act, a significant legislative initiative aimed at examining the incidence and fatality rates of cancer among active-duty fixed-wing military aircrew. The study, conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Pentagon data, is expected to provide insights into potential occupational health risks faced by military aviators.

The ACES Act has garnered bipartisan support, with representatives such as Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) playing key roles in its passage. The study responds to earlier findings showing that military aviators have up to a 24% higher likelihood of cancer diagnosis compared to civilians.

The ACES Act covers a wide range of crew members, including pilots, navigators, weapons system operators, loadmasters, medics, and any other personnel who regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft. The study's findings could lead to improvements in safety protocols and make it easier for service members to prove their cancer diagnosis is connected to their time in uniform, potentially easing their access to disability benefits from the VA.

In a related development, the Rotary-wing Operator Toxic Occupational Research (ROTOR) Act is under consideration to study cancer risks among rotary-wing (helicopter) aviators. While no specific findings or status have been detailed in available sources, the ROTOR Act is intended to investigate cancer risks in rotary-wing aviators in a manner similar to the fixed-wing focus of the ACES Act.

If enacted, the ROTOR Act would cover all rotary-wing pilots and aviation support staff who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force after Feb. 28, 1961. The study's findings are due within 18 months after the bill becomes law.

Meanwhile, the Air Force has already taken steps to address potential carcinogens at Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) facilities. A 2023 review recommended each launch control facility be deep cleaned. Furthermore, the Air Force conducted the first intensive cleaning of the hardened bunkers in 2014 after decades of around-the-clock use.

The British military is also grappling with similar issues, as at least 180 current and former British military aircrews are considering suing the Ministry of Defence for damages related to cancer diagnoses they attribute to years of breathing toxic helicopter fumes. The British military is investigating the potential health risks posed by engine exhaust to troops and is trying to determine how many aviators have been diagnosed with cancer.

In conclusion, the ACES Act and the potential ROTOR Act represent significant steps in addressing potential cancer risks in military aviation communities. The ACES Act is actively directing a major study on cancer risks in fixed-wing military aviation personnel, while the ROTOR Act remains at the consideration stage without publicly available findings yet. The research could make it easier for service members to unlock disability benefits through the Department of Veteran Affairs.

References: 1. Congress Passes ACES Act to Study Cancer Risks in Military Aviators 2. ACES Act: Congress Takes Action on Cancer Risk in Military Aviators 3. Military Aviators Face Higher Cancer Risk, New Data Shows 4. ROTOR Act: A New Study on Cancer Risks in Rotary-Wing Aviators 5. British Military Faces Military Service-Connected Cancer Lawsuits

  1. The U.S. Congress recently passed the Aviators Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act, a legislation aimed to examine cancer rates among military aviators.
  2. The ACES Act, conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, will use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Pentagon data to provide insights into potential occupational health risks for military pilots.
  3. The ACES Act covers diverse crew members, including air force pilots, navigators, weapons system operators, and medical personnel, who regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft.
  4. The ACES Act's findings could lead to safety protocol improvements and ease access to disability benefits for service members diagnosed with cancer.
  5. A related bill, the Rotary-wing Operator Toxic Occupational Research (ROTOR) Act, is under consideration to study cancer risks among rotary-wing (helicopter) aviators.
  6. Enacted, the ROTOR Act would cover rotary-wing pilots and aviation support staff in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force from 1961 onwards.
  7. The Air Force has already started addressing potential carcinogens at Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) facilities by deep-cleaning launch control facilities.
  8. Similar issues are being faced by the British military, with at least 180 current and former British military aircrews considering suing the Ministry of Defence for cancer diagnoses linked to helicopter fumes.

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