In 2002, the All Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection teamed up with ICF and the other Range States to start a new project - "Flight of Hope". Each year a flock of young, captive-bred Siberian Cranes is led by an ultralight aircraft along part of their traditional migration route between Russia and India. The project includes the creation of new wintering grounds in the Amudaria River Valley in Uzbekistan.

This bold initiative is an adaptation of a similar programme using an ultralight aircraft, which has shown promise for endangered Whooping Cranes in the United States. Although the full migration route was not attempted, substantial progress has been made.