Other Intangibles - Net (Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010
Gross Carrying Value	$ 406,438		$ 406,438		$ 393,116
Accumulated Amortization	(127,210)		(127,210)		(100,967)
Net Carrying Amount	279,228		279,228		292,149
Amortization expense	8,935	8,635	26,020	26,471
Customer Relationships [Member] | Turbine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	44,327		44,327		44,327
Accumulated Amortization	(19,331)		(19,331)		(18,223)
Net Carrying Amount	24,996		24,996		26,104
Process Technology [Member] | Turbine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	11,941		11,941		11,941
Accumulated Amortization	(5,208)		(5,208)		(4,909)
Net Carrying Amount	6,733		6,733		7,032
Other Intangibles [Member] | Turbine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value
Accumulated Amortization
Net Carrying Amount
Turbine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	56,268		56,268		56,268
Accumulated Amortization	(24,539)		(24,539)		(23,132)
Net Carrying Amount	31,729		31,729		33,136
Turbine Systems [Member] | Intellectual Property [Member]
Gross Carrying Value
Accumulated Amortization
Net Carrying Amount
Customer Relationships [Member] | Airframe Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	176,667		176,667		176,634
Accumulated Amortization	(25,019)		(25,019)		(13,162)
Net Carrying Amount	151,648		151,648		163,472
Process Technology [Member] | Airframe Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	62,984		62,984		62,967
Accumulated Amortization	(10,327)		(10,327)		(6,797)
Net Carrying Amount	52,657		52,657		56,170
Other Intangibles [Member] | Airframe Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	39,648		39,648		39,638
Accumulated Amortization	(32,900)		(32,900)		(27,595)
Net Carrying Amount	6,748		6,748		12,043
Airframe Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	279,299		279,299		279,239
Accumulated Amortization	(68,246)		(68,246)		(47,554)
Net Carrying Amount	211,053		211,053		231,685
Airframe Systems [Member] | Intellectual Property [Member]
Gross Carrying Value
Accumulated Amortization
Net Carrying Amount
Customer Relationships [Member] | Electrical Power Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	5,993		5,993		2,156
Accumulated Amortization	(1,167)		(1,167)		(844)
Net Carrying Amount	4,826		4,826		1,312
Process Technology [Member] | Electrical Power Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	8,289		8,289
Accumulated Amortization	(212)		(212)
Net Carrying Amount	8,077		8,077
Other Intangibles [Member] | Electrical Power Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	2,337		2,337		1,510
Accumulated Amortization	(583)		(583)		(389)
Net Carrying Amount	1,754		1,754		1,121
Electrical Power Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	24,527		24,527		11,282
Accumulated Amortization	(6,068)		(6,068)		(4,800)
Net Carrying Amount	18,459		18,459		6,482
Electrical Power Systems [Member] | Intellectual Property [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	7,908		7,908		7,616
Accumulated Amortization	(4,106)		(4,106)		(3,567)
Net Carrying Amount	3,802		3,802		4,049
Customer Relationships [Member] | Engine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	20,675		20,675		20,675
Accumulated Amortization	(14,990)		(14,990)		(13,577)
Net Carrying Amount	5,685		5,685		7,098
Process Technology [Member] | Engine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	12,593		12,593		12,593
Accumulated Amortization	(5,560)		(5,560)		(4,787)
Net Carrying Amount	7,033		7,033		7,806
Other Intangibles [Member] | Engine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	460		460		460
Accumulated Amortization	(196)		(196)		(129)
Net Carrying Amount	264		264		331
Engine Systems [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	46,344		46,344		46,327
Accumulated Amortization	(28,357)		(28,357)		(25,481)
Net Carrying Amount	17,987		17,987		20,846
Engine Systems [Member] | Intellectual Property [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	12,616		12,616		12,599
Accumulated Amortization	(7,611)		(7,611)		(6,988)
Net Carrying Amount	5,005		5,005		5,611
Customer Relationships [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	247,662		247,662		243,792
Accumulated Amortization	(60,507)		(60,507)		(45,806)
Net Carrying Amount	187,155		187,155		197,986
Intellectual Property [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	20,524		20,524		20,215
Accumulated Amortization	(11,717)		(11,717)		(10,555)
Net Carrying Amount	8,807		8,807		9,660
Process Technology [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	95,807		95,807		87,501
Accumulated Amortization	(21,307)		(21,307)		(16,493)
Net Carrying Amount	74,500		74,500		71,008
Other Intangibles [Member]
Gross Carrying Value	42,445		42,445		41,608
Accumulated Amortization	(33,679)		(33,679)		(28,113)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 8,766		$ 8,766		$ 13,495