the complexities of airspace, ATC interaction and traffic density require much more of a newly minted PPL than 40 years ago.
I think it only seems that way. In 1974, IIRC, I had to teach TCAs, ARSAs, ATAs, CZs and TRSAs (stages one and two). But then, somebody (if I ever get my hands around their neck...) changed it all around for the digit brain generation. Our brain cells aren't programmed for ones and zeros, so it only
seems like it's all more complicated, TFRs excepted. We had BFRs too, but CFIs treated them like the hour of dual they were intended to be, not the "3-hour flight tests" some CFIs evolved them into today.
I remember the 1960s when a small 2200' airstrip I flew from would often have more than 5 airplanes in the pattern--most without working radios (Superhomers) and also the rapid-fire instructions from the old Tamiami Airport control tower handling multiple runways and students from multiple schools together with the busy reliever traffic from Miami International. Often there were way more than a dozen airplanes in the pattern there.
Of course, we had our share of novice pilots, nee ham radio operators, who liked to gab to ATC more than fly the plane, but I suspect that mindset is even more prevalent today, judging by the need for everybody to instantly gossip on forums and in emails, instant messaging, texting and over cell phones. We needed none of that and looked forward to hearing, "Frequency change approved," so we could turn the darn thing off, not beg for someone to follow us around holding our hands and distracting ATC from their primary job of controlling IFR aircraft. I'll take that service readily now, though, it seems the FAA has had the funds for enough controllers
ever since 1969.
dtuuri
In the absence of real data, I don't know if the recently trained pilot population has better or worse stick and rudder skills than older pilots. I suspect skills have a lot more to do with your instructor and how you are taught rather than when it happened.
