@Dking737
The DGCA primary rules for renewal of ATPL license lie in Aircraft rules 1937 , Schedule II , Section M , 3 b)
I'll copy paste that here and note the part highlighted in bold .
I have also split it so that the rules become a little bit more clear .
Everyone seems to be under the impression that the only criteria available for renewal of license is to fly 10 hours
section-m
b) having satisfactorily completed not less than ten hours flight time as Pilot-in-Command (fifty percent of flight time as Co-Pilot may be counted towards the requirements of flight time as Pilot-in-Command) within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for renewal,
or in lieu thereof ;
having satisfactorily completed the flying tests by day and by night as laid down in clause (g) of paragraph 1 within the same period.
As given the in above quote you can clearly see that there is an alternative to flying 10 hours and that is to just give the skill tests
You dont have to fly 10 hours AND give the skill tests . Either of them will do
Let me rewrite the rules a little bit more clearly
The flying requirements in order to renew the license which have to be flown within the last 6 months prior to application for renewal ( this must be flown on any multi engine aircraft endorsed on the ATPL license )
1. Fly 10 hours PIC
OR
2. Fly 20 hours SIC
OR
3. Give a skill test by day and night and an IR check
By meeting any one of the above 3 requirements you can apply for renewal of the license
Logically speaking the hours you fly as 737 co pilot in the middle east should satisfy the requirements because you are endorsed on the same and the rules dont the say they have to be flown on an Indian registered aircraft
But being the DGCA they always have their own set of unwritten rules that they want you to meet and will most likely demand that these hours be flown on an Indian registered aircraft
The application for renewal is only accepted at a DGCA regional office . However if your IR has been expired for more than a year then that has to be renewed by the main office near Safdarjung airport
I suggest you pay a visit to the nearest regional office and talk to them about your situation . If they accept the hours in the middle east then its mostly a straightforward process . They might demand some sort of verification letter from your employer
But to renew the IR ( should you wish to get it renewed ) you will most likely have to give skill test in India
If they dont accept the hours in the middle east then find the nearest flight school with a PA 34 and do a 45 minute FAM flight followed by
1 hour skill test by day
1 hour skill test by night
1 hour IR Check ( should you wish to renew the IR on PA 34 )
Prior to any flying in India you will need
Valid RTR license
Valid FRTOL
Valid Class 1 medical
Valid ELP as well
This is the application form for renewal of license . Go through it to get the bigger picture
http://dgca.nic.in/circular/FCL1_2010R2.pdf