Horgy,
Only thing I disagree with is safety pilot release - 30/40 sectors, WTF?
I know of 2 cadets in my base recently who exceeded 30 sectors without being safety released, it is not uncommon.
As I said it depends on your ability,not everybody has the ability to be released after 12 or 16 sectors..
Nick,
When I line trained I recieved my contract before I started however that was the old Ryanair training contract which has since been removed and now the Brookfield contract has replaced it,
Cadets are offered the contract before the line training begins or after it has started and not before the type rating.
JJ