I am surprised a non-ATP pilot would be allowed to fly solo (even for a few minutes) an airliner with 150 passengers.
That's actually the standard at Lufthansa. Their training is completely different from how things work in the US, where young guys need to gather 1000+ hours as CFIs or freight dogs, only to qualify for some crappy regional airline. Most of their pilots are hired directly from high school and most have no prior flight experience. Also, Lufthansa initially pays for the entire training at Lufthansa's own flight school, the pilots have to pay back only a relative small amount.
Other than mentioned on CNN, they have to go through a very tough, multiple day assessment center. No exceptions. My understanding is, that their evaluation of potential pilots is one of the strictest in the entire industry, because very few of the applicants pass. A guy on PPRUNE wrote up the contents of the test:
http://www.pprune.org/interviews-jobs-sponsorship/250660-lufthansa-dlr-test.html#post1230384
Once somebody is hired, he is sent for 6 month or so to Goodyear, AZ to the Lufthansa flight school, which exclusively operates Bonanzas. In Goodyear, they do the basic training: From learning how to take off to the instrument rating. Next, back in German, they continue their training in a Citation (maybe some other jet, I don't remember) and simulators. Once they are done with this and have the type rating for the plane they will fly later on, they start to work as first officers - with a VERY good salary right from the start.
How do I know? One of my friends is a young pilot at Lufthansa.
Also, they seem to practice like crazy in their full motion flight simulators. I don't know how much training pilots at other airlines receive, at Lufthansa it however appears almost excessive.
Lufthansa Training Center:
http://www.lufthansa-flight-training.com/en/home
My impression is, that few of them are aviators not to speak of stick-and-rudder guys. I however think that all of them are mentally strong, well trained professionals.