Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices - Narrative (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices - Narrative (Details)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 13, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 01, 2017
USD ($)
Apr. 03, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 29, 2018
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Jul. 01, 2017
USD ($)
Apr. 01, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
reporting_unit
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
segment
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Jan. 01, 2018
USD ($)
Oct. 02, 2016
reporting_unit
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Number of reportable segments | segment                           2      
Business acquisition purchase price paid in cash                         $ 0 $ 114,039,000 $ 0    
Research and development, design and related engineering                         $ 114,300,000 95,000,000.0 88,900,000    
Period of options granted (in years)                         5 years        
Cash and cash equivalents maturity period (in months)                         3 months        
Depreciation expense                         $ 15,000,000.0 14,100,000 14,300,000    
Capital leases payments due in 2019         $ 2,000,000.0               2,000,000.0        
Capital leases payments due in 2020         2,100,000               2,100,000        
Capital leases payments due in 2021         2,200,000               2,200,000        
Capital leases payments due in 2022         900,000               $ 900,000        
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit                         12        
Number of reporting units have goodwill and subject to goodwill impairment test | reporting_unit                                 9
Impairment Loss         0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 16,237,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 16,237,000 0    
Intangible asset impairment charge                         0 0 0    
Cash dividends paid                         $ 0 0 0    
Year 3                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Vesting percentage                         20.00%        
Year 2                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Vesting percentage                         20.00%        
Year 1                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Vesting percentage                         20.00%        
Held for Sale                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Maximum total earnout proceeds                         $ 35,000,000        
Test Systems | Subsequent Event | Held for Sale                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Total cash proceeds of divesture $ 103,500,000                                
Cash at closing 100,000,000.0                                
Sale of inventory 3,500,000                                
Gain on sale, net of tax $ 80,000,000                                
Income taxes from divesture       $ 22,000,000                          
Pension Plan                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Net periodic benefit cost                         2,000,000.0 1,700,000 $ 1,700,000    
Retained Earnings                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Adoption of ASU 2018-02                         $ 1,373,000        
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Retained Earnings                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Adoption of ASU 2014-09                               $ 3,268,000  
Machinery and Equipment | Minimum                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         4 years        
Machinery and Equipment | Maximum                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         10 years        
Building                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Building acquired under capital leases, net         3,400,000       10,300,000       $ 3,400,000 10,300,000      
Building acquired under capital leases, gross         8,200,000       15,500,000       8,200,000 15,500,000      
Accumulated amortization         $ 4,800,000       $ 5,200,000       $ 4,800,000 $ 5,200,000      
Building | Minimum                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         25 years        
Building | Maximum                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         40 years        
Astronics Custom Control Concepts Inc. | Custom Control Concepts LLC                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Business acquisition purchase price paid in cash     $ 10,200,000                            
Cash acquired     $ 500,000                            
Astronics Custom Control Concepts Inc. | Telefonix, Incorporated                                  
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                  
Business acquisition purchase price paid in cash   $ 103,800,000                              
Cash acquired   $ 200,000