CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 517,629	$ 509,131	$ 999,674	$ 967,547
Cost of Sales	353,902	331,925	687,611	647,429
Gross Profit	163,727	177,206	312,063	320,118
Expenses
Selling, general & administrative	102,036	97,924	200,922	193,034
Research, development and engineering	24,725	29,041	50,567	50,747
License fee income	(2,268)	0	(5,293)	0
Loss on sale of business	5,310	0	5,310	0
Insurance recovery	0	(5,189)	0	(7,789)
Total Expenses	129,803	121,776	251,506	235,992
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	33,924	55,430	60,557	84,126
Interest Income	(449)	(100)	(747)	(196)
Interest Expense	8,167	7,458	15,771	15,346
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	26,206	48,072	45,533	68,976
Income Tax Expense	2,079	13,080	55,868	12,617
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	24,127	34,992	(10,335)	56,359
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(173)	(552)	(526)	(791)
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	23,954	34,440	(10,861)	55,568
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(77)	(34)	(243)	(5,370)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	$ 23,877	$ 34,406	$ (11,104)	$ 50,198
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Basic:
Continuing operations	$ 0.81	$ 1.16	$ (0.36)	$ 1.87
Discontinued operations	0	0	(0.01)	(0.18)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	0.81	1.16	(0.37)	1.69
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Diluted:
Continuing operations	0.80	1.15	(0.36)	1.86
Discontinued operations	0	0	(0.01)	(0.18)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	$ 0.80	$ 1.15	$ (0.37)	$ 1.68
Net Earnings (Loss)	$ 23,877	$ 34,406	$ (11,104)	$ 50,198
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments	(6,813)	5,909	(7,373)	(932)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,824)	1,428	(1,934)	(481)
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments, Net of Tax	(4,989)	4,481	(5,439)	(451)
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations	1,019	1,063	1,861	3,596
Income Tax Expense	177	260	474	1,252
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations, Net of Tax	842	803	1,387	2,344
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	11,825	16,184	18,179	(36,837)
Comprehensive Income	$ 31,555	$ 55,874	$ 3,023	$ 15,254