D O'L.
Have you seen the FLYING qualifications of these Shuttle pilots ? Mostly Test Pilots I think you'll find. Not just pilots already but exceptional.
And just to add a few coals to the fire ...........a very experienced Training Captain pal of mine came back the other night after a Line Check on a new "graduate" FO. He looked absolutely whacked. "What's up, mate?", I asked. "I've been flying on my f**king own again", he said.