Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2012 CAD	Jul. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Parent USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Parent USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Parent USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Parent USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Consolidation, Eliminations USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Consolidation, Eliminations USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Consolidation, Eliminations USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Consolidation, Eliminations USD ($)
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 485,949			$ 409,512	$ 1,461,662	$ 1,215,588	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 227,022	$ 215,058	$ 670,767	$ 640,539	$ 260,229	$ 195,162	$ 793,626	$ 576,745	$ (1,302)	$ (708)	$ (2,731)	$ (1,696)
Cost of Sales	313,853			265,973	946,962	778,980	0	0	0	0	144,787	141,994	419,969	410,499	170,368	124,687	529,724	370,177	(1,302)	(708)	(2,731)	(1,696)
Gross Profit	172,096			143,539	514,700	436,608	0	0	0	0	82,235	73,064	250,798	230,040	89,861	70,475	263,902	206,568	0	0	0	0
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	91,869			76,418	285,516	214,919	0	0	0	0	35,862	35,803	107,639	99,909	56,007	40,615	177,877	115,010	0	0	0	0
Research, development and engineering	27,198			23,075	83,138	63,945	0	0	0	0	13,062	8,973	38,080	26,891	14,136	14,102	45,058	37,054	0	0	0	0
Gain on settlement of contingency	0	(11,900)	(11,800)	0	(11,891)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(11,891)	0	0	0	0	0
Goodwill impairment	52,169			0	52,169	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	52,169	0	52,169	0	0	0	0	0
Other income	(1,263)			(6,366)	(1,263)	(6,366)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,263)	(6,366)	(1,263)	(6,366)	0	0	0	0
Total Expenses	169,973			93,127	407,669	272,498	0	0	0	0	48,924	44,776	145,719	126,800	121,049	48,351	261,950	145,698	0	0	0	0
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	2,123			50,412	107,031	164,110	0	0	0	0	33,311	28,288	105,079	103,240	(31,188)	22,124	1,952	60,870	0	0	0	0
Interest Income	(109)			(658)	(320)	(1,428)	(3,574)	(3,748)	(10,559)	(10,770)	(5,090)	(794)	(12,468)	(2,053)	(14,319)	(6,908)	(47,717)	(18,007)	22,874	10,792	70,424	29,402
Interest Expense	12,159			10,286	35,171	28,381	8,648	8,628	26,311	24,348	7,396	5,326	20,613	15,413	18,989	7,124	58,671	18,022	(22,874)	(10,792)	(70,424)	(29,402)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0			0	0	831	0	0	0	831	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Taxes	(9,927)			40,784	72,180	136,326	(5,074)	(4,880)	(15,752)	(14,409)	31,005	23,756	96,934	89,880	(35,858)	21,908	(9,002)	60,855	0	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	6,963			2,821	20,677	22,323	(4,058)	(1,250)	(6,087)	(3,527)	22,476	1,640	32,840	12,635	(11,455)	2,431	(6,076)	13,215	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	(16,890)			37,963	51,503	114,003	(1,016)	(3,630)	(9,665)	(10,882)	8,529	22,116	64,094	77,245	(24,403)	19,477	(2,926)	47,640	0	0	0	0
Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(214)			(222)	(628)	(328)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(214)	(222)	(628)	(328)	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline	(17,104)			37,741	50,875	113,675	(1,016)	(3,630)	(9,665)	(10,882)	8,529	22,116	64,094	77,245	(24,617)	19,255	(3,554)	47,312	0	0	0	0
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0			(46)	0	(75)	0	0	0	0	0	(46)	0	(75)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0			0	0	0	(16,088)	41,325	60,540	124,482	2,080	9,492	10,791	22,354	(50)	(1,365)	(140)	1,127	14,058	(49,452)	(71,191)	(147,963)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	$ (17,104)			$ 37,695	$ 50,875	$ 113,600	$ (17,104)	$ 37,695	$ 50,875	$ 113,600	$ 10,609	$ 31,562	$ 74,885	$ 99,524	$ (24,667)	$ 17,890	$ (3,694)	$ 48,439	$ 14,058	$ (49,452)	$ (71,191)	$ (147,963)