Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 446,344	$ 485,940
Cost of Sales	300,994	315,205
Gross Profit	145,350	170,735
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	93,656	89,132
Research, development & engineering	22,455	25,646
Restructuring charges	3,050	4,796
Other (income) expense	(12,744)	0
Total Expenses	106,417	119,574
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	38,933	51,161
Interest Income	(179)	(119)
Interest Expense	5,841	8,625
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	33,271	42,655
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	8,150	8,626
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	25,121	34,029
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(63)	(86)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	25,058	33,943
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(16,739)	(3,865)
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	8,319	30,078
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(140,186)	(10,438)
Parent Company
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	0	0
Cost of Sales	0	0
Gross Profit	0	0
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	0	0
Research, development & engineering	0	0
Restructuring charges	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0
Total Expenses	0	0
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	0	0
Interest Income	(3,965)	(3,996)
Interest Expense	6,344	6,336
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	(2,379)	(2,340)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(549)	(476)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	(1,830)	(1,864)
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(1,830)	(1,864)
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(774)	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	10,923	31,942
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	8,319	30,078
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(126,850)	(2,821)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	209,001	219,865
Cost of Sales	139,810	140,671
Gross Profit	69,191	79,194
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	38,659	35,805
Research, development & engineering	9,777	11,823
Restructuring charges	2,438	3,073
Other (income) expense	409	0
Total Expenses	51,283	50,701
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	17,908	28,493
Interest Income	(7,198)	(2,025)
Interest Expense	12,328	7,057
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	12,778	23,461
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,614	5,241
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	11,164	18,220
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	11,164	18,220
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(10,576)	(1,851)
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	62	432
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	650	16,801
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	552	17,404
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	238,203	267,517
Cost of Sales	162,044	175,976
Gross Profit	76,159	91,541
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	54,997	53,327
Research, development & engineering	12,678	13,823
Restructuring charges	612	1,723
Other (income) expense	(13,153)	0
Total Expenses	55,134	68,873
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	21,025	22,668
Interest Income	(8,398)	(14,676)
Interest Expense	6,551	15,810
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	22,872	21,534
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	7,085	3,861
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	15,787	17,673
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(63)	(86)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	15,724	17,587
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(5,389)	(2,014)
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	(606)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	10,335	14,967
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(116,035)	(11,634)
Eliminations
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	(860)	(1,442)
Cost of Sales	(860)	(1,442)
Gross Profit	0	0
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	0	0
Research, development & engineering	0	0
Restructuring charges	0	0
Other (income) expense	0	0
Total Expenses	0	0
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	0	0
Interest Income	19,382	20,578
Interest Expense	(19,382)	(20,578)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(10,985)	(31,768)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	(10,985)	(31,768)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 102,147	$ (13,387)