Air France is about to embark on one of its trickiest-ever flights, requiring pilots with special training and using a route that can never stray more than 240 minutes from an airfield.

The commercial carrier is burdened with retrieving an A380 from a Canadian military airport, where it made an emergency landing after one of its engines shattered during a Paris to LA flight on September 30.

Now a daring three-engine ferry flight to return the stranded superjet to its French base for forensic analysis must be made.

Air France is burdened with retrieving an A380 from a Canadian military airport, where it made an emergency landing after one of its engines shattered during a Paris to LA flight on September 30

The mission will be full of logistical difficulties, and power and weather limitations, all of which threaten to jeopardise the operation's success.

First of all, the team that performs the 2,300-mile repatriation exercise from Goose Bay in Labrador will need a special skill set.

And here's why - it's likely, according to Reuters, that the disintegrated engine will be removed from the plane's body by Airbus and Air France engineers, but not replaced by a fourth that helps to power the aircraft. Instead a spare will be installed and left to 'windmill'. It will, therefore, merely act as a counterbalance.

Flying the aircraft with a three-engine configuration requires preparation and imposes on the pilots a strict set of safety parameters.

Pilot Dave Wallsworth, who flies A380s for British Airways, explained that lengthy simulator sessions - which mimic flying on reduced power - will form an essential part of this.

He wrote on Twitter: 'The operating crew have to have completed a special training course. They also have to complete a simulator session prior to actually conducting a three-engine ferry flight in order to practise the required handling techniques and operational items.

Rare sight: The shattered engine pictured after its three-metre-wide fan fell 37,000 feet

'If possible, this simulator detail will match the actual weather conditions, aircraft state and airports as closely as possible.

'One extremely important consideration is the failure of an engine, leaving the A380 powered by only two engines. Therefore, the aircraft weight will be low. Obviously no passengers or freight are allowed!'

He added: 'The route flown must ensure the aircraft is never more than 240 minutes at two-engine inoperative cruise speed from a suitable airfield.'

Fear: 500 passengers were on the craft when the incident occurred on 30 September

Once ready, the plane will perform a special take-off - but will be restricted by weather conditions from the start.

For example, it can't take off in crosswinds heavier than 10 knots.

One of the plane's four engines exploded over Greenland, sending the front part - including its three-metre-wide fan - into the ice sheet 37,000 feet below.

Cabin crew gathered around to look at the starboard wing where number four engine is located

More than 500 passengers and crew, some of whom had reported a bang and vibration, were picked up on two replacement jets after waiting for hours onboard due to problems in accommodating the world's largest airliner at the remote military airport.

Investigators at France’s air safety body, BEA, will return the disintegrated engine to its manufacturers in Cardiff.

Ten feet in diameter, it will be boxed and flown as special cargo to avoid further damage, which could potentially hamper any technical investigation.

The Airbus A380, file photograph, was forced to divert to Goose Bay in Newfoundland

However, because of the airport's remoteness, crucial apparatus needed to complete this could be lacking and may need to be hired or imported, causing extra delays.

Some parts of the engine were retrieved by helicopter in Greenland on October 6 and dispatched to BEA headquarters in Paris. But investigators still face a tricky search in uncertain weather conditions to try to find other missing elements before they are buried by snow.

Although nobody was injured, the engine break-up has led to what could be a lengthy investigation to ensure other aircraft are not exposed to the risk of damage from high-speed engine debris. Experts say such incidents are very rare, however.

GP7200 engines used on Air France A380s are made by Engine Alliance, co-owned by GE and Pratt & Whitney.

In 2010 a Qantas A380 engine built by UK rival Rolls-Royce blew up shortly after take-off. Investigators cited a poorly manufactured part.

MailOnline has contacted Air France for an official statement, but are yet to receive a response.