Air transport of the Auxiliary Imam and the Shia Convocation
Air transport of the Auxiliary Imam and the Shia Convocation encompasses a variety of aircraft based at Mount Ilias Airfield, Mount Ilias. For the most part, the aircraft are utilised by the Shia Convocation's many administrative departments and institutions, most notably by the Department for Charities and Welfare to airlift humanitarian aid. The Auxiliary Imam almost exclusively flies on the fleet's Citation Longitude and Global 5000, for short to medium range and long range flights respectively. On occasions, members of the Shia Convocation's elected bodies, such as the Continental Council for Lorecia, and the various national councils for Hindia Belanda and Maqtajer, also utilise the aircraft in the fleet to travel internationally to areas not served by scheduled commercial flights. Flights of the Auxiliary Imam are operated by Nusa Prestige Jets, a Hindia Belandan private jet management company whereas those of the Shia Convocation are operated by its own flight operator.
Current aircraft
Livery
All aircraft in the Shia Convocation's fleet either feature the institutional flag of the Auxiliary Imamate as a corporation sole or the personal standard of the incumbent Auxiliary Imam, Siyyid Hussain al-Hakim Billah. There is no reference to the Shia Convocation anywhere on the aircraft liveries in the fleet. All aircraft are registered in Hindia Belanda, with the exception of one Airbus A320neo with tail number "ND-LKA" registered in Noordenstaat.
Airbus A320neo
In 2015, the Shia Convocation ordered three A320neo aircraft to replace two ageing 737-700Cs which at the time had been in operation for 15 years. The two A320neo aircraft were delivered to the Shia Convocation on 12 August 2017 and began operation shortly after, upon the retirement of the 737-700Cs. The A320neos are mainly utilised for humanitarian missions of the Shia Convocation as well as the Red Cross of Hindia Belanda with whom the Shia Convocation maintains a partnership.
All A320neos are configured with 50 seats occupying a third of the aircraft and a cargo area occupying the mid and aft sections. The seats can be removed with relative ease to expand the cargo capacity.
Bombardier Global 5000
Since 2002, the Shia Convocation operates a Bombardier Global 5000 in a 18-seat VIP configuration for long range travel of the Auxiliary Imam and administrative members of the Shia Convocation. The aircraft sports an austere white livery with the personal standard of the incumbent Auxiliary Imam painted on its tail.
The Global 5000 is based at Mount Ilias Airfield, but can sometimes be seen parked at Meester Cornelis Aerodrome in Jakarta.
In 2017, the Global 5000 aircraft underwent a mandatory major inspection costing HBR 4.9 million, as published in that year's declassified financial report of the Shia Convocation. At the time of its inspection, it has operated over 3,200 flights.
Cessna Citation Longitude
The newest aircraft in the Shia Convocation's fleet, the Citation Longitude is primarily used by the Auxiliary Imam for short to medium range flights. On some occasions, the aircraft is also used to cover long distance travel with stopovers. The Shia Convocation took delivery of the Citation Longitude on 7 December 2020.
The Citation Longitude is configured in a VIP setting with 10 seats and normally crewed with 2 pilots and a flight attendant serving in the Household of the Auxiliary Imam. Unlike most aircraft in the fleet, the Citation Longitude's livery has the words "The Auxiliary Imamate" painted on the fuselage along with the institutional flag of the Auxiliary Imamate.
Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300
A Bombardier BD-100 Challenger 300 has been chartered by the Shia Convocation from Nusantara Jets since 2018. The Shia Convocation has reportedly expressed intentions to purchase the aircraft from the company.