CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$ 5,323	$ 7,381
Accounts receivable, net of allowance fo doubtful accounts	3,030	1,574
Inventories
Parts and Raw materials	6,049	6,339
Work in process	1,362	1,349
Finished goods	244	275
Total inventory	7,655	7,963
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	939	873
Total current assets	16,947	17,791
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and building	4,099	4,081
Aircraft	5,888	5,712
Machinery and equipment	3,705	3,630
Office furniture and fixtures	6,805	5,637
Leasehold improvements	4,032	4,032
Property, plant and equipment, gross	24,529	23,092
Accumulated depreciation	(14,339)	(13,218)
Total property, plant and equipment	10,190	9,874
SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (net of amortization of $3,731 at July 31, 2016 and $3,549 at April 30, 2016)	6,405	6,481
OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred tax asset	678	1,104
Other assets (net of accumulated amortization of $5,902 at July 31, 2016 and $5,579 at April 30, 2016)	6,704	7,447
Total other assets	7,382	8,551
Total Assets	40,924	42,697
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Promissory notes	2,257	3,988
Current maturities of long-term debt	2,203	2,464
Accounts payable	1,530	2,018
Customer deposits	2,079	258
Gaming facility mandated payment	844	1,206
Compensation and compensated absences	1,058	1,322
Other current liabilities	266	125
Total current liabilities	10,237	11,381
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES:	3,726	5,218
Total liabilities	13,963	16,599
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, par value $0.01: authorized 100,000,000 shares issued and outstanding 64,066,873 shares at July 31, 2016 and 64,066,873 shares at April 30, 2016	640	640
Capital contributed in excess of par	13,356	13,716
Treasury stock at cost, 600,000 shares	(742)	(732)
Retained Earnings	9,301	8,185
Total stockholders' equity Butler National Corporation	22,555	21,809
Noncontrolling Interest in BHCMC, LLC	4,406	4,289
Total stockholders' equity	26,961	26,098
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	40,924	42,697
Preferred Class A [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	0	0
Preferred Class B [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0