I've been getting used to flying the Aerosoft Airbus 320, and am finding when programming my arrival into the flight plan of the MCDU, I'm discovering options called "VIAS"

 

Take for example an arrival into TBPB Grantley Adams (Bridgetown, Barbadoes). After I choose the arrival runway, I am prompted to consider Approach VIAS (as not STARS exist). Consider the ILS Rwy 09.

 

VIAS include: BGI, D1540, D3460.

 

What are VIAS? BGI is a VOR, but what are D1540 and D3460?

Hello RKillins. I'm not familiar with the model you are flying and the exact context that is being presented to you, but it looks to be that they're asking you to consider the indicated airspeed as you're coming in. However, where we normally refer to IAS as indicated airspeed, it's putting it in a V-speed format.  I'm giving you a link to a PDF I found when trying to search more on your question.  Take a look at the example below the graph on page 5–3, which is page 3 of the PDF.

 

http://www.fox-air.com/downloads/jrfmsect5performancesed1rev0.pdf

 

Hope this helps!

I've been getting used to flying the Aerosoft Airbus 320, and am finding when programming my arrival into the flight plan of the MCDU, I'm discovering options called "VIAS"

 

Take for example an arrival into TBPB Grantley Adams (Bridgetown, Barbadoes). After I choose the arrival runway, I am prompted to consider Approach VIAS (as not STARS exist). Consider the ILS Rwy 09.

 

VIAS include: BGI, D1540, D3460.

 

What are VIAS? BGI is a VOR, but what are D1540 and D3460?

 

Do you have the approach plate for the ILS Rwy 9 available to you?

 

The MCDU behavior in general when selecting an approach:

 

Normally when you choose an approach in the Airbus MCDU, it will load the FAF and one fix prior to the FAF (and if there isn't a published fix prior to the FAF for the approach, the MCDU will create a CF fix along the final approach course prior to the FAF)

 

If you select a STAR, you will not be able to select an APPR VIA.   Without a STAR loaded, APPR VIAs are available.

 

Now for your specific question regarding the TBPB ILS 9 approach.

 

When you select the ILS 9, it will load the FAF and one fix prior - as normal behavior.  In this case it will the be 7 DME fix which is the final approach fix, and probably the 15DME fix, as that is the next to last fix on the published approach.

 

As there is no STAR loaded, the MCDU will give you with option of loading an APPR VIA - which you listed there are 3 options:

BGI

D346O

D154O

 

If you look at the approach plate for the ILS 9, you will notice there are 3 transitions for the ILS, which correspond to the APPR VIAs in the MCDU.

 

If you select BGI, it will load the procedure turn from BGI to join the ILS 9.

 

You will also notice two 15nm DME arcs around BGI, with the initial fixes on the R-346 and R-154 radials from BGI.

So selecting the D346O APPR VIA will cause the MCDU to fly the 15DME arc from the R-346 radial.  and the consequently selecting the D154O APPR VIA will cause the MCDU to fly the 15DME arc from the R-154 radial.

 

As the DME arc fixes do not have a unique assigned name like BGI, they are given a generic name so that you can select it in the box.

D346O which is composed of the following elements - starting with 346 - indicating the DME arc starts from the 346 radial, and O - indicating 15nm from the VOR,   A = 1 mile, B = 2 miles, C = 3 miles, O = 15 miles, Z = 26 miles, etc...

 

Hope this helps  (sorry if I've explained too much or if I was too technical/complicated - I don't know what your experience level is)

I don't have the Aerosoft A320 (although your post made me investigate it and pique my interest as I was looking for an Airbus sim for FS X).