Abstract: Embodiments of a system for recovery of a target aircraft by a host aircraft, the system including a towline having a proximal section configured to be coupled with the host aircraft and a distal section configured to be paid out from the host aircraft, a fitting coupled with the distal section of the towline, wherein the fitting comprises a housing, a global navigation satellite system receiver (e.g., without limitation, a GPS receiver), and a global navigation satellite system antenna. In some embodiments, when paid out from the host aircraft, the towline is configured to be in a substantially vertical orientation.