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
Dec. 01, 2017
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Apr. 03, 2017
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Oct. 11, 2016
Jan. 14, 2015
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Dec. 31, 2017
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Sep. 30, 2017
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Jul. 01, 2017
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Apr. 01, 2017
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Dec. 31, 2016
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Oct. 01, 2016
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Jul. 02, 2016
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Apr. 02, 2016
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Dec. 31, 2017
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segment
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Dec. 31, 2016
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Dec. 31, 2015
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Oct. 02, 2016
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New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Number of reportable segments | segment                         2      
Retained Earnings         $ 325,191,000       $ 305,512,000       $ 325,191,000 $ 305,512,000    
Aggregate transaction gain included in operations                             $ 1,000,000  
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit                         12      
Cash and cash equivalents maturity period (in months)                         3 months      
Period of options granted (in years)                         5 years      
Research and development, design and related engineering                         $ 95,000,000 88,900,000 90,300,000  
Revenue recognized from long term fixed price contracts                         21,000,000 20,700,000 17,200,000  
Business acquisition purchase price paid in cash                         114,039,000 0 52,276,000  
Depreciation expense                         14,100,000 14,300,000 13,300,000  
Capital leases payments due in 2018         2,700,000               2,700,000      
Capital leases payments due in 2019         2,000,000               2,000,000      
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 have goodwill and subject to goodwill impairment test | reporting_unit                               9
Impairment charge         16,237,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 16,237,000 0 0  
Excess tax benefit                         500,000      
Intangible asset impairment charge                         0 0 0  
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Net periodic benefit cost                         1,700,000 1,700,000 1,900,000  
Pension Plan                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Net periodic benefit cost                         1,700,000 1,700,000 $ 1,900,000  
Armstrong Areospace, Inc.                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Percentage of acquired stock       100.00%                        
Cash purchase price       $ 52,300,000                        
Impairment charge                         16,200,000      
Telefonix, Incorporated                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Percentage of acquired stock 100.00%                              
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                              
Precontract Costs                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Capitalized precontract costs         7,000,000               7,000,000      
Building                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Building acquired under capital leases, net         10,300,000       10,500,000       10,300,000 10,500,000    
Building acquired under capital leases, gross         15,500,000       14,300,000       15,500,000 14,300,000    
Accumulated amortization         5,200,000       $ 3,800,000       $ 5,200,000 $ 3,800,000    
Minimum | Building                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         25 years      
Minimum | Machinery and Equipment                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         4 years      
Maximum | Building                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         40 years      
Maximum | Machinery and Equipment                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)                         10 years      
Pro Forma | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Retained Earnings         $ 10,000,000               $ 10,000,000      
Convertible Class B Stock                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Stock distribution     0.15                          
Year 1                                
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 3                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Vesting percentage                         20.00%      
Year 4                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Vesting percentage                         20.00%      
Year 5                                
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                                
Vesting percentage                         20.00%