CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 499,871	$ 504,107	$ 1,499,545	$ 1,471,654
Cost of Sales	329,951	330,408	1,017,562	977,837
Gross Profit	169,920	173,699	481,983	493,817
Expenses
Selling, general & administrative	98,895	93,615	299,817	286,649
Research, development and engineering	22,830	30,190	73,397	80,937
License fee income	0	0	(5,293)	0
Loss (gain) on sale of business	(97)	0	5,213	0
Insurance recovery	0	0	0	(7,789)
Total Expenses	121,628	123,805	373,134	359,797
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	48,292	49,894	108,849	134,020
Interest Income	(579)	(150)	(1,326)	(346)
Interest Expense	7,902	7,299	23,673	22,645
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	40,969	42,745	86,502	111,721
Income Tax Expense	11,094	10,703	66,962	23,320
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	29,875	32,042	19,540	88,401
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	158	278	684	1,069
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	29,717	31,764	18,856	87,332
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(1,894)	(815)	(2,137)	(6,185)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	$ 27,823	$ 30,949	$ 16,719	$ 81,147
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Basic:
Continuing operations	$ 1.01	$ 1.07	$ 0.63	$ 2.94
Discontinued operations	(0.06)	(0.03)	(0.07)	(0.21)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	0.95	1.04	0.56	2.73
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Diluted:
Continuing operations	1.00	1.06	0.63	2.92
Discontinued operations	(0.06)	(0.03)	(0.07)	(0.21)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	$ 0.94	$ 1.03	$ 0.56	$ 2.71
Net Earnings (Loss)	$ 27,823	$ 30,949	$ 16,719	$ 81,147
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments	(13,588)	11,966	(20,961)	11,034
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(4,104)	3,575	(6,038)	3,094
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments, Net of Tax	(9,484)	8,391	(14,923)	7,940
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations	1,311	536	3,172	4,132
Income Tax Expense	359	284	833	1,536
Change in Pension and Post-Retirement Obligations, Net of Tax	952	252	2,339	2,596
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	(50,889)	46,763	(32,710)	9,926
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ (31,598)	$ 86,355	$ (28,575)	$ 101,609