In 1996 the FAA changed the reg (61.129) for COMM ME students to allow them to log PIC with an instructor because operators said their insurance would not allow the student to go solo for 10 hours. It took 13 years for the helicopter and powered lift and gyroplane schools to pile on and say they had the same problem under 61.129. The FAA finally said this fall any COMM student can log PIC with an instructor aboard in 61.129 even though they say it should have been clear under 61.51 that this was legal.