Originally Posted by
Twin Wasp
In 1996 the FAA changed the reg (61.129) for COMM ME students to allow them to log PIC with an instructor
Not really. 61.129 isn't a logging reg so it neither permits or prohibits logging*.
What that amendment did was to allow flight with an instructor while "preforming the duties" to substitute for 61.129's solo flight requirement. Maybe it needs clarification by the FAA, but there's nothing in 61.51 that permits the commercial trainee to log PIC time in this situation.
* Just a point of information on reading this stuff: any time you talk about a reg other than 61.51 allowing logging flight time, there's a better than 90% chance that you're wrong.