And you wonder why so many Europeans go to the US or Oz to do their instrument ratings. 5 out of 10 candidates failing on their 1st attempt, god what a crock. Seems like the tests need changing.
Just look at the Americans, you can do an instrument rating in 10 days, and they fly in even worse weather that in Europe, and there are 1000 times as many aircraft and pilots in the US as there is in Europe. Just look at how many US private pilots hold instrument ratings.
Here in Oz, the majority of of instrument ratings are done on a casual, once or twice a week basis, half are private pilots. Where I am, we do 20 hrs in the sim(that part is a good idea to do it 4 hrs a day), then averaging 22 to 25 hrs in the Duchess. ILS, LLZ, VOR and NDB approaches are all done. The interesting part is that our last 3 students got the IR with 150 hrs TT or there abouts, all PPL's.........and the 1st tome pass rate is probably up near 80%.
I think your beaurocrats in the JAA are having themselves on.