Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2008 CAD	Oct. 25, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 26, 2013 USD ($)		Apr. 26, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2013 USD ($)		Oct. 26, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 USD ($)		Apr. 27, 2012 USD ($)		Apr. 27, 2012 CAD	Jan. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 USD ($)		Oct. 26, 2012 USD ($)		Oct. 28, 2011 USD ($)		Oct. 25, 2013 Parent USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 Parent USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Parent USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 Eliminations USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 Eliminations USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Eliminations USD ($)
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales		$ 534,162	$ 478,068		$ 499,562	$ 457,962		$ 530,656	$ 485,949		$ 504,831			$ 470,882	$ 1,969,754	[1]	$ 1,992,318	[1]	$ 1,717,985	[1]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 955,403	$ 920,027	$ 880,711	$ 1,018,658	$ 1,076,296	$ 840,130	$ (4,307)	$ (4,005)	$ (2,856)
Cost of Sales															1,243,758		1,273,365		1,128,265		0	0	0	593,564	569,181	563,033	654,501	708,189	568,088	(4,307)	(4,005)	(2,856)
Gross Profit		205,373	178,902		181,376	160,345		204,253	172,096		184,523			158,081	725,996		718,953		589,720		0	0	0	361,839	350,846	317,678	364,157	368,107	272,042	0	0	0
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative															391,147		382,887		304,154		0	0	0	165,540	146,761	120,548	225,607	236,126	183,606	0	0	0
Research, development and engineering															95,736		107,745		94,505		0	0	0	50,806	50,372	39,352	44,930	57,373	55,153	0	0	0
Gain on sale of product line															(2,264)		0		0		0	0	0	(2,264)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gain on settlement of contingency	(11,800)										(11,900)		(11,800)		0		(11,891)		0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(11,891)	0	0	0	0
Goodwill impairment			3,500						52,200						3,454		52,169		0		0	0	0	0	0	0	3,454	52,169	0	0	0	0
Other (income) expense															0		(1,263)		(6,853)		0	0	0	0	0	38	0	(1,263)	(6,891)	0	0	0
Total Expenses															488,073		529,647		391,806		0	0	0	214,082	197,133	159,938	273,991	332,514	231,868	0	0	0
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations															237,923		189,306		197,914		0	0	0	147,757	153,713	157,740	90,166	35,593	40,174	0	0	0
Interest income															(539)		(465)		(1,615)		(15,639)	(14,178)	(15,461)	(7,704)	(16,141)	(4,702)	(54,606)	(60,299)	(45,411)	77,410	90,153	63,959
Interest expense															39,667		46,238		40,216		30,050	34,948	33,270	26,868	27,210	22,178	60,159	74,233	48,727	(77,410)	(90,153)	(63,959)
Loss on extinguishment of debt															946		0		831		946	0	831	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Taxes															197,849		143,533		158,482		(15,357)	(20,770)	(18,640)	128,593	142,644	140,264	84,613	21,659	36,858	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)															30,085		29,958		24,938		(3,320)	(5,591)	(4,274)	25,242	32,314	21,322	8,163	3,235	7,890	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests															167,764		113,575		133,544		(12,037)	(15,179)	(14,366)	103,351	110,330	118,942	76,450	18,424	28,968	0	0	0
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests															(1,730)		(1,040)		(457)		0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,730)	(1,040)	(457)	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax		66,188	39,213	[2],[3],[4]	35,522	25,111	[5]	61,660	(17,104)	[6],[7]	45,191	[8]		22,788	166,034		112,535		133,087		(12,037)	(15,179)	(14,366)	103,351	110,330	118,942	74,720	17,384	28,511	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax		(325)	(975)		0	0		0	0		0			0	(1,300)		0		(47)		(1,300)	0	0	0	0	(47)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries															0		0		0		178,071	127,714	147,406	1,697	17,659	16,523	3,705	(145)	13,103	(183,473)	(145,228)	(177,032)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline		65,863	38,238		35,522	25,111		61,660	(17,104)		45,191			22,788	164,734		112,535		133,040		164,734	112,535	133,040	105,048	127,989	135,418	78,425	17,239	41,614	(183,473)	(145,228)	(177,032)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline		65,863	38,238		35,522	25,111		61,660	(17,104)		45,191			22,788	164,734		112,535		133,040		164,734	112,535	133,040	105,048	127,989	135,418	78,425	17,239	41,614	(183,473)	(145,228)	(177,032)
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax															(3,119)		(2,399)		(5,934)		0	0	0	0	0	0	(3,119)	(2,399)	(5,934)	0	0	0
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax															42,994		(23,708)		(9,986)		36,669	(15,727)	(7,157)	0	0	0	6,325	(7,981)	(2,829)	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment															23,125		(56,365)		9,873		23,125	(56,365)	9,873	100	172	450	40,442	(58,746)	2,077	(40,542)	58,574	(2,527)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)															$ 227,734		$ 30,063		$ 126,993		$ 224,528	$ 40,443	$ 135,756	$ 105,148	$ 128,161	$ 135,868	$ 122,073	$ (51,887)	$ 34,928	$ (224,015)	$ (86,654)	$ (179,559)

[1] Based on country from which the sale originated and the sale was recorded.

[2] Included a $10.0 million charge related to our pending matter with the DDTC.

[3] Included $8.2 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters.

[4] Included a $3.5 million goodwill impairment charge related to Racal Acoustics.

[5] Included $3.7 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters.

[6] Included a $52.2 million goodwill impairment charge related to Racal Acoustics.

[7] Included $4.6 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters.

[8] Included a $9.5 million gain on settlement of a contingency, net of tax.