GREENSBORO – To help ease some passengers’ frustrations, a federal task force informally known as the “Tarmac Task Force” has approved voluntary guidelines for airlines and airports to follow during delays.

The 36-member task force was created last December to deal with passengers stranded for hours on the tarmac.

Some passengers said that getting stuck on the tarmac can make them feel helpless.

“You feel like you don't have any choice in the matter. You can demand all you want to but it's not going to happen," airline traveler Roger King said.

Passenger Kristie Johnson said that when she was stranded on a plane, she never heard about the problem from the airline.

“They never did come on and tell us what happened,” She said. “We found out after the fact just hearing somebody else in the airport talking about it.”

Johnson also added that she thought the airlines should have a strict time limit on how long people can be stuck on a tarmac before being allowed to leave the airplane.

Among the task force’s recommendations to airlines were updates to delayed passengers ever 15 minutes, refreshments and entertainment.

The task force also recommended that airlines provide a secure room to passengers from overseas flights, and that they should keep airplane restrooms open.