Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended
	Jul. 20, 2015	Jun. 05, 2015	Jan. 01, 2016	Jan. 30, 2015	Dec. 26, 2014		Oct. 02, 2015
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			$ (4,800)	$ (5,900)
Loss on net assets held for sale			2,517		$ 0	[1]
Environmental Exit Costs, Assets Previously Disposed, Liability for Remediation			1,300				$ 1,600
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax			(4,780)		(5,947)	[1]
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				500
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax				$ (300)
Advanced Materials
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on net assets held for sale			2,247		0
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax			$ (5,104)		$ (5,329)
Eclipse
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of discontinued operation		$ 7,900
PA&E
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of discontinued operation	$ 22,300

[1] (Recast)