Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	May 01, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	May 02, 2014	May 01, 2015	May 02, 2014
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale		$ 49,500,000		$ 15,846,000	$ 0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,822,000)		(3,691,000)	(18,561,000)	(7,556,000)
Environmental Exit Costs, Assets Previously Disposed, Liability for Remediation	1,100,000	1,500,000		1,100,000
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(1,822,000)		(3,691,000)	(18,561,000)	(7,556,000)
Previously Sold Business
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Environmental Exit Costs, Assets Previously Disposed, Liability for Remediation	1,200,000			1,200,000
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(800,000)
Avionics & Controls
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale				10,200,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	927,000		(1,094,000)	(11,113,000)	(3,103,000)
Advanced Materials
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale				5,100,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ (3,311,000)		$ (2,233,000)	$ (7,591,000)	$ (3,825,000)