Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Oct. 02, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 02, 2015		Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		$ 49,341	$ 68,472	$ 55,407	[1]	$ 45,678
Depreciation and amortization		90,575	100,258	103,357	[1]	116,027
Identifiable Assets		3,000,488	3,032,031	3,000,488		3,193,467
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		542	0	789		1,199
Depreciation and amortization		496	12	1,877		14,588
Identifiable Assets		57,095	29,488	57,095		212,712
Operating Segments | Avionics & Controls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	[2]	13,074	36,423	14,537		9,312
Depreciation and amortization		33,415	38,909	38,070		35,604
Identifiable Assets		1,276,678	1,304,860	1,276,678		1,125,850
Operating Segments | Sensors & Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	[3]	19,489	14,319	21,766		21,070
Depreciation and amortization		37,250	40,399	41,200		43,507
Identifiable Assets		1,116,282	1,140,624	1,116,282		1,240,153
Operating Segments | Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	[4]	14,324	15,868	16,309		13,629
Depreciation and amortization		17,474	18,691	19,708		20,217
Identifiable Assets		493,968	498,442	493,968		498,984
Corporate Non Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		1,912	1,862	2,006		468
Depreciation and amortization		1,940	2,247	2,502		2,111
Identifiable Assets	[5]	$ 56,465	$ 58,617	$ 56,465		$ 115,768

[1] (Recast)

[2] Excludes capital expenditures accounted for as a capitalized lease obligation of $2.8 million in fiscal 2014.

[3] Excludes capital expenditures accounted for as a capitalized lease obligation of $8.0 million in fiscal 2016.

[4] Excludes capital expenditures accounted for as a capitalized lease obligation of $3.3 million in fiscal 2016.

[5] Primarily cash and deferred tax assets (see Note 10).