Sagey,
The 44 years rule is changing soon to 30 years (according to the letter the inland revenue just sent me advising me not to pay the top-up amount). So NI contributions aren't really anything to worry yourself about.
Flyboy 1818,
Cadet FO salary (after the line training 6 month slave labour thingy has finished) is £24445 plus sector pay, which works out at £30k or a little more. This is after deduction of the loan repayments (12k).
Cheers