Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

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

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Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices - Narrative (Details)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 04, 2019
USD ($)
Jul. 12, 2019
USD ($)
Feb. 13, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 01, 2017
USD ($)
Apr. 03, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
segment
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Jan. 01, 2019
USD ($)
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             $ 28,907,000 $ 0 $ 114,039,000    
Research and development, design and related engineering             $ 108,900,000 $ 114,300,000 95,000,000.0    
Period of options granted (in years)             5 years        
Cash and cash equivalents maturity period (in months)             3 months        
Capital Lease Obligation, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent               0.053      
Depreciation expense             $ 13,700,000 $ 15,000,000.0 14,100,000    
Number of reporting units have goodwill and subject to goodwill impairment test | reporting_unit                     9
Impairment Loss             1,610,000 0      
Intangible asset impairment charge               0 0    
Equity investment impairment             5,000,000 0 0    
Cash dividends paid             0 0 $ 0    
Operating Right-of-Use Assets             23,602,000        
Lease liability             25,556,000        
Property, plant and equipment, net             112,499,000 $ 120,862,000      
Finance lease, liability             $ 4,738,000        
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%        
Disposed of by Sale | Airfield Lighting Product Line                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Proceeds from sale   $ 1,000,000.0                  
Percentage of revenue (as a percentage)               1.00%      
Pre-tax loss on sale             $ 1,300,000        
Test Systems                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Impairment Loss             0        
Test Systems | Held for Sale                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Total cash proceeds of divesture     $ 103,800,000                
Gain on sale, net of tax     $ 80,100,000     $ 80,100,000          
Income taxes from divesture           $ 19,700,000 19,700,000        
Aerospace                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Impairment Loss             1,610,000        
Intangible asset impairment charge             $ 6,200,000        
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Operating Right-of-Use Assets                   $ 18,400,000  
Lease liability                   18,500,000  
Finance lease, liability                   6,500,000  
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Restatement Adjustment                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Property, plant and equipment, net                   $ (3,500,000)  
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      
Building acquired under capital leases, gross               8,200,000      
Accumulated amortization               $ 4,800,000      
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        
Diagnosys Test Systems Limited                      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                      
Cash purchase price $ 7,000,000.0                    
Potential additional earn-out $ 13,000,000.0                    
Achievement period (in years) 3 years                    
Earn-out achievement benchmark $ 72,000,000.0                    
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