Note 1: Acquisitions, Dispositions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended														6 Months Ended								12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 IAE Collaboration [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 IAE Collaboration [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 International Aero Engines AG [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Service portfolios [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Service portfolios [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Patents and trademarks [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Patents and trademarks [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Collaboration [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Collaboration [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other, principally customer relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other, principally customer relationships [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Otis [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 UTC Climate Controls and Security [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pratt and Whitney [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Hamilton Sundstrand [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Sikorsky [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Total Segments [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Eliminations and other [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Goodrich Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Goodrich Corporation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 International Aero Engines AG [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 MTU Aero Engines AG [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Date Of Acquisition Agreement																								September 21, 2011		June 29, 2012
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price																								$ 18,200,000,000		$ 1,500,000,000
Business Acquisition Cash Paid Per Share																								$ 127.50
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Debt Assumed																								1,700,000,000
Business Acquisition Revenue Reported By Acquired Entity For Last Annual Period																									8,100,000,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain (Loss), Net																										21,000,000
Length Of Time For Agreement																										15
Proceeds From Portion Of Acquired Interests Sold																											233,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			17,943,000,000														1,516,000,000	9,758,000,000	1,223,000,000	4,475,000,000	348,000,000	17,320,000,000	623,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			298,000,000														8,000,000	36,000,000	254,000,000	0	0	298,000,000	0
Goodwill translation and other			(2,125,000,000)														(37,000,000)	(178,000,000)	(543,000,000)	(744,000,000)	0	(1,502,000,000)	(623,000,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance	16,116,000,000		16,116,000,000														1,487,000,000	9,616,000,000	934,000,000	3,731,000,000	348,000,000	16,116,000,000	0
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)			(2,100,000,000)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	6,838,000,000		6,838,000,000		5,828,000,000				2,031,000,000	2,036,000,000	390,000,000	463,000,000	1,244,000,000	0	3,173,000,000	3,329,000,000
Accumulated Amortization	(2,671,000,000)		(2,671,000,000)		(2,672,000,000)				(1,100,000,000)	(1,060,000,000)	(153,000,000)	(183,000,000)	0	0	(1,418,000,000)	(1,429,000,000)
Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entities and Interest in Affiliates			358,000,000
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition and Interest in Affiliates Debt Assumed			149,000,000
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	726,000,000		726,000,000		762,000,000
Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill	7,564,000,000		7,564,000,000		6,590,000,000
Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Excluding Goodwill	(2,671,000,000)		(2,671,000,000)		(2,672,000,000)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	96,000,000	103,000,000	195,000,000	203,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense			360,000,000
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Current Assets	1,565,000,000		1,565,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Noncurrent Assets	902,000,000		902,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	2,467,000,000		2,467,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Current Liabilities	1,465,000,000		1,465,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Noncurrent Liabilities	902,000,000		902,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Liabilities	$ 2,367,000,000		$ 2,367,000,000
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment Ownership Percentage						61.00%	33.00%	49.50%