A positioning system, device, and method are provided to facilitate the in-flight positioning of two aircraft relative to one another such that a second aircraft is guided to an in-flight refueling position relative to a first aircraft. The system, device, and method of the present invention provide a signal emitted from a positioning device carried by the first aircraft, wherein the signal defines a signal envelope containing the in-flight refueling position. The signal is adapted to be receivable by the second aircraft such that the signal may guide the second aircraft to the in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft.