<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-07</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009779</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FAIRCHILD CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001268087</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PODKOWSKY JOHN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE FAIRCHILD CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>45025 AVIATION DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DULLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>John W. Podkowsky</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

