[MarkE]

There's CD at Van Nuys (class D) and the only time i've called them is if I'm departing to the east. The reason is that Van Nuys sits underneath Burbank's Class C and their surface area is about 1 mile east of VNY. Also at some airports, well at least in my experience Riverside, you can inform ground that you plan to enter the class C (I assume this would work with B as well) and they'll give you a sqwak code. Best bet is to read your A/FD. It should tell you when calling CD is necessary.