Yanks are far far far less bureaucratic on ops.
Yes, funny how things change when it's someone else's country....
I once went to Gatwick to get a Temporary Airman's Certificate (as one could in those days) from the FAA field rep. All went fine until it was time to pay...
Pounds?
No sir, we can't take those.
OK - a sterling cheque?
No sir, we can't take those.
A Eurocheque then?
No sir, we can't take those.
OK, then cash. Look, here you are, genuine Yankee greenbacks, your money. Left over from my last military trip across the pond!
No sir, we can't take cash...
OK - WTF do you accept?
Uh, sir, you need an American Express Bank Draft.
That's not what you told me when I rang you yesterday!
Uh, sir, you need an American Express Bank Draft.
Well, I'll have to send you one then, I suppose...
Uh, sir, you need an American Express Bank Draft. It has to be sent to the US.
So I had to go to the bank, sort out the draft and send it to somewhere in the US. Eventually, after several weeks, a tatty piece of cardboard turned up...
I never did bother to use it though.
However
did they get to the moon?