CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$ 6,195	$ 6,261
Accounts receivable	1,724	3,109
Inventories
Raw materials	5,277	5,102
Work in process	1,364	1,090
Finished goods	396	144
Total Inventory	7,037	6,336
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	862	825
Total current assets	15,818	16,531
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and building	4,071	4,044
Aircraft	7,493	6,723
Machinery and equipment	3,612	3,535
Office furniture and fixtures	5,396	6,447
Leasehold improvements	4,081	4,060
Property, plant and equipment, gross	24,653	24,809
Accumulated depreciation	(13,473)	(12,140)
Total property, plant and equipment	11,180	12,669
SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (net of accumulated amortization of $2,975 at April 30, 2015 and $2,841 at April 30, 2014)	5,863	3,744
OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred tax asset	1,197	1,335
Other assets (net of accumulated amortization of $4,050 at April 30, 2015 and $2,520 at April 30, 2014)	7,540	7,399
Total other assets	8,737	8,734
Total assets	41,598	41,678
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Promissory notes	1,510	1,757
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	2,412	3,908
Accounts payable	1,874	1,375
Customer deposits	837	982
Gaming facility mandated payment	1,299	1,267
Compensation and compensated absences	1,294	1,122
Other current liabilities	100	93
Total current liabilities	9,326	10,504
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES:	6,870	6,820
Total liabilities	$ 16,196	$ 17,324
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, par value $.01:authorized 100,000,000 shares issued and outstanding 59,619,173 shares at April 30, 2013 and 57,907,564 at April 30, 2012	$ 628	$ 614
Capital contributed in excess of par	13,487	13,282
Treasury stock at cost, 600,000 shares	(732)	(732)
Retained earnings	8,161	8,134
Total stockholders' equity Butler National Corporation	21,544	21,298
Noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	3,858	3,056
Total stockholders' equity	25,402	24,354
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	41,598	41,678
Preferred Class A [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	0	0
Preferred Class B [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0