CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (USD $)	Total	Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) of Erickson Air-Crane	Redeemable Series A Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings Accumulated (Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)	Noncontrolling Interest Amount	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ (15,598,000)	$ (16,528,000)	$ 57,010,000		$ 1,000		$ (16,707,000)	$ 178,000	$ 930,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			34,999.5		1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends accrued on redeemable preferred stock	(9,151,000)	(9,151,000)	9,151,000				(9,151,000)
Noncontrolling interest dividend	(254,000)								(254,000)
Components of comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	16,260,000	15,870,000					15,870,000		390,000	16,260,000
Foreign currency translation	(402,000)	(214,000)						(214,000)	(188,000)	(402,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	15,858,000									15,858,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	(9,145,000)	(10,023,000)	66,161,000		1,000		(9,988,000)	(36,000)	878,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			34,999.5		1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends accrued on redeemable preferred stock	(2,794,000)	(2,794,000)	2,794,000				(2,794,000)
Noncontrolling interest dividend	(297,000)								(297,000)
Conversion of preferred and class A common stock to common stock	68,956,000	68,956,000	(68,955,000)	500	(1,000)	68,956,000
Conversion of preferred and class A common stock to common stock (in shares)			(34,999.5)	4,802,970	(1,000)
Issuance of common stock related to IPO, net of expense	31,454,000	31,454,000		500		31,454,000
Issuance of common stock related to IPO, net of expense (in shares)				4,800,000
Stock based compensation	1,729,000	1,729,000				1,729,000
Components of comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	16,493,000	16,178,000					16,178,000		315,000	16,493,000
Foreign currency translation	117,000	121,000						121,000	(4,000)	117,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	16,610,000									16,610,000
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 106,513,000	$ 105,621,000		$ 1,000		$ 102,139,000	$ 3,396,000	$ 85,000	$ 892,000
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012				9,602,970