CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 01, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 509,182	$ 490,310	$ 966,915	$ 931,787
Cost of Sales	333,263	334,137	646,949	637,895
Gross Profit	175,919	156,173	319,966	293,892
Expenses
Selling, general & administrative	97,083	102,423	192,716	196,514
Research, development and engineering	26,808	24,974	47,846	50,549
Restructuring charges	0	940	0	1,871
Insurance recovery	(5,189)	0	(7,789)	0
Total Expenses	118,702	128,337	232,773	248,934
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	57,217	27,836	87,193	44,958
Interest Income	(100)	(94)	(196)	(181)
Interest Expense	7,458	7,294	15,346	14,510
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	49,859	20,636	72,043	30,629
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	14,160	3,416	14,580	3,383
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	35,699	17,220	57,463	27,246
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(552)	(224)	(791)	(386)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	35,147	16,996	56,672	26,860
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(34)	(2,023)	(5,370)	(6,803)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	$ 35,113	$ 14,973	$ 51,302	$ 20,057
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Basic:
Continuing operations	$ 1.18	$ 0.58	$ 1.91	$ 0.91
Discontinued operations	0	(0.07)	(0.18)	(0.23)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic	1.18	0.51	1.73	0.68
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Diluted:
Continuing operations	1.17	0.57	1.90	0.90
Discontinued operations	0	(0.07)	(0.18)	(0.23)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted	$ 1.17	$ 0.50	$ 1.72	$ 0.67
Net Earnings	$ 35,113	$ 14,973	$ 51,302	$ 20,057
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments	5,604	20,274	(695)	16,101
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,428	5,779	(481)	4,494
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments, Net of Tax	4,176	14,495	(214)	11,607
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations	1,063	(87)	3,596	2,188
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	260	83	1,252	840
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations, Net of Tax	803	(170)	2,344	1,348
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	16,189	31,246	(36,838)	(8,215)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 56,281	$ 60,544	$ 16,594	$ 24,797