v3.3.0.814
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Details)
£ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, £ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2015
Jul. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Affiliates
People
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
GBP (£)
voting_rights
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
voting_rights
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
USD ($)
May. 31, 2004
USD ($)
shares
May. 31, 2004
£ / shares
Apr. 30, 2004
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Number of variable interest entities | Affiliates           4                
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]                            
Cash and cash equivalents         $ 263,910   $ 263,910   $ 139,341 $ 104,146 $ 204,341      
Accounts receivable                 231,785 258,618        
Inventories                 145,731 147,169        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                 75,906 70,091        
Total current assets                 634,005 637,851        
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates                 196,350 216,376        
Property, plant and equipment, net                 2,155,590 2,157,101        
Goodwill                 52,404 75,628        
Other assets                 162,703 143,764        
Total assets                 3,201,052 3,230,720        
Accounts payable                 108,678 84,193        
Accrued liabilities                 227,302 258,445        
Accrued interest                 11,858 12,831        
Current deferred taxes                 15,108 17,704        
Current Maturities of long-term debt                 30,041 18,730        
Total current liabilities                 381,129 435,006        
Total long-term debt                 973,339 845,692        
Accrued pension liabilities                 91,908 99,576        
Other liabilities and deferred credits                 26,942 39,782        
Deferred taxes                 150,172 165,655        
Redeemable noncontrolling interests                 30,527 26,223        
Revenue       $ 446,911 475,636 $ 913,907 948,174              
Net income (loss)       (45,680) 27,825 $ (47,309) 72,828              
Nigerian Company owned by 100% Nigerian Employees                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage, Third Party           50.00%                
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Purchased Percentage From Third Party 2.00%                          
Employee Trust Fund                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage, Third Party           2.00%                
Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Ltd                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Purchased Percentage From Third Party 8.00%                          
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity           49.00%                
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage, Third Party           51.00%                
Purchase of deferred stock shares | shares                       8,000,000    
Business acquisition share price | £ / shares                         £ 1  
Total Amount Paid For Deferred Shares                       $ 14,400    
Principal amount of subordinated unsecured loan stock               £ 91.0 $ 137,800          
Interest rate on unsecured loan           13.50%                
Deferred interest cost           $ 1,600,000                
Call option price held by noncontrolling interest | £               £ 1.0            
Call Option Rate Over LIBOR               3.00% 3.00%          
Call Option Guaranteed Rate                       12.00%    
Put Option Guaranteed Rate                           10.00%
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]                            
Cash and cash equivalents                 $ 109,507 91,190        
Accounts receivable                 539,509 521,989        
Inventories                 102,497 100,065        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                 82,828 42,659        
Total current assets                 834,341 755,903        
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates                 273 64        
Property, plant and equipment, net                 252,819 243,357        
Goodwill                 46,460 61,242        
Other assets                 89,277 78,637        
Total assets                 1,223,170 1,139,203        
Accounts payable                 523,943 379,357        
Accrued liabilities                 145,466 154,306        
Accrued interest                 1,592,456 1,489,369        
Current deferred taxes                 0 1,128        
Current Maturities of long-term debt                 9,041 9,643        
Total current liabilities                 2,270,906 2,033,803        
Total long-term debt                 164,234 168,245        
Accrued pension liabilities                 91,908 99,576        
Other liabilities and deferred credits                 8,114 11,948        
Deferred taxes                 13,301 14,457        
Redeemable noncontrolling interests                 30,527 26,223        
Liabilities                 $ 2,578,990 $ 2,354,252        
Revenue       377,362 391,615 764,133 775,432              
Operating Income (Loss)       (9,829) 7,018 (27,573) 23,718              
Net income (loss)       $ (78,938) $ (47,767) $ (143,715) $ (85,348)              
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | Caledonia Investments Plc                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Number Of Voting Rights | voting_rights               3 3          
Number of Board Of Directors Nominations | People           2                
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | Director one                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Number Of Voting Rights | voting_rights               1 1          
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | Director two                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Number Of Voting Rights | voting_rights               1 1          
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | Caledonia Investments Plc                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage, Third Party           46.00%                
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | European Union                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage, Third Party           5.00%                
Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Ltd                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity           48.00%                
Nigerian Company owned by 100% Nigerian Employees                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Purchased Percentage From Third Party   29.00% 19.00%                      
Pan African Airlines Nigeria Ltd                            
Variable Interest Entities And Other Investments [Line Items]                            
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity           50.17%