CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2017	Dec. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 482,045	$ 458,416
Cost of Sales	333,709	315,504
Gross Profit	148,336	142,912
Expenses
Selling, general & administrative	98,886	95,110
Research, development and engineering	25,842	21,706
Insurance recovery	0	(2,600)
License fee income	(3,025)	0
Total Expenses	121,703	114,216
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	26,633	28,696
Interest Income	(298)	(96)
Interest Expense	7,604	7,888
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	19,327	20,904
Income Tax Expense	53,789	(463)
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	(34,462)	21,367
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(353)	(239)
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(34,815)	21,128
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(166)	(5,336)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	$ (34,981)	$ 15,792
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Basic:
Continuing operations	$ (1.16)	$ 0.71
Discontinued operations	(0.01)	(0.18)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	(1.17)	0.53
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Diluted:
Continuing operations	(1.16)	0.71
Discontinued operations	(0.01)	(0.18)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	$ (1.17)	$ 0.53
Net Earnings (Loss)	$ (34,981)	$ 15,792
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments	(560)	(6,841)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(110)	(1,909)
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments, Net of Tax	(450)	(4,932)
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations	842	2,533
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	297	992
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations, Net of Tax	545	1,541
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	6,354	(53,021)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ (28,532)	$ (40,620)