Private jet:-
>>would you still say that if you were flying an underpowered, manually controlled, unreliable, low automation Boeing 707, into airfields with few basic navaids...? on three week trips, multi sector days with no flight time limitation regs? <<
I believe the job is more demanding because the issues are more complicated these days. If our sole concern was safety then things would be relatively straightforward. As it is we contend with blame, employment concerns, career instability, management pressures, timekeeping and (very sadly) political correctness.
I have nothing but respect for earlier aviators; I do wonder though if life was a tad simpler for them.
SOP