| Segments - Summary of Segment Reporting Information (Detail) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 
      
        | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 27, 2014 | Jun. 28, 2014 | Mar. 29, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 28, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Sales | $ 166,083us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 179,442us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 174,563us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 140,951us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 105,456us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 89,681us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 70,833us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 73,967us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 661,039us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 339,937us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 266,446us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | 
      
        | Income from Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 87,362us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss | 42,305us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss | 32,625us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss | 
      
        | Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,255)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet | (4,094)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet | (1,042)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet | 
      
        | Income Before Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 79,107us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 38,211us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 31,583us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 
      
        | Depreciation and Amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 27,254us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization | 11,059us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization | 6,905us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization | 
      
        | Total Assets | 562,910us-gaap_Assets |  |  |  | 491,271us-gaap_Assets |  |  |  | 562,910us-gaap_Assets | 491,271us-gaap_Assets | 211,989us-gaap_Assets | 
      
        | Total Capital Expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,882us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets | 6,868us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets | 16,720us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets | 
      
        | Test Systems Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 166,292us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 9,407us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 11,491us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Operating Segments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Income from Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 92,154us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 | 51,444us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 | 39,152us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 | 
      
        | Percentage of Operating Profit (Loss) and Margins |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13.90%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 | 15.10%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 | 14.70%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 | 
      
        | Operating Segments [Member] | Aerospace Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 494,747us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 330,530us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 254,955us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Income from Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 79,753us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 55,200us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 44,137us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Percentage of Operating Profit (Loss) and Margins |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16.10%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 16.70%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 17.30%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Depreciation and Amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,847us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 10,058us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 6,043us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Total Assets | 468,481us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 |  |  |  | 428,619us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 |  |  |  | 468,481us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 428,619us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 177,168us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Total Capital Expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35,650us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 6,711us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 16,324us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_AerospaceSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Operating Segments [Member] | Test Systems Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 166,769us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 10,103us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 11,491us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Income from Operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,401us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | (3,756)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | (4,985)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Percentage of Operating Profit (Loss) and Margins |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.40%atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | (37.20%)atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | (43.40%)atro_PercentageOfOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Depreciation and Amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,786us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 590us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 634us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Total Assets | 69,247us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 |  |  |  | 11,035us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 |  |  |  | 69,247us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 11,035us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 18,121us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Total Capital Expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,472us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 61us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 396us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Test Systems Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (477)us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 | (696)us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
 = atro_TestSystemsSegmentMember
 |  | 
      
        | Segment Reconciling Items [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,255)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
 | (4,094)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
 | (1,042)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
 | 
      
        | Corporate and Other Expenses, Net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4,792)us-gaap_OperatingExpenses / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
 | (9,139)us-gaap_OperatingExpenses / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
 | (6,527)us-gaap_OperatingExpenses / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
 | 
      
        | Corporate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Depreciation and Amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 621us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | 411us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | 228us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Total Assets | 25,182us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 |  |  |  | 51,617us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 |  |  |  | 25,182us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | 51,617us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | 16,700us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | 
      
        | Total Capital Expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,760us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 | $ 96us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
 = us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 |  |