Business Segments and Geographic Areas - Schedule of Financial Information Concerning Reportable Operating Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Jun. 30, 2015 |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Sep. 30, 2014 |
Jun. 30, 2014 |
Mar. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | $ 186,751 | $ 214,733 | $ 198,547 | $ 204,197 | $ 210,760 | $ 216,294 | $ 212,145 | $ 197,071 | $ 804,228 | $ 836,270 | $ 856,500 | |||||||
| Total segment direct expenses | 687,050 | 670,007 | 713,090 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses | 46,422 | 43,171 | 38,820 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 70,111 | 111,640 | 119,284 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (29,066) | (29,510) | (29,756) | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on debt extinguishment | (29,833) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes | $ 938 | $ 14,290 | $ 11,044 | $ 16,984 | $ 11,651 | $ 28,277 | $ 21,700 | $ (8,513) | 43,256 | 53,115 | 90,141 | |||||||
| Reportable Operating Segments [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 804,228 | 836,270 | 856,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment direct expenses | 687,356 | 670,103 | 713,352 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses | 17,771 | 14,573 | 12,935 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment expenses | 705,127 | 684,676 | 726,287 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 99,101 | 151,594 | 130,213 | |||||||||||||||
| Reportable Operating Segments [Member] | Air Medical [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 312,775 | 300,212 | 277,884 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment direct expenses | 246,487 | 243,573 | 231,880 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses | [1] | 10,455 | 9,801 | 8,875 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 55,833 | 46,838 | 37,129 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (300) | |||||||||||||||||
| Reportable Operating Segments [Member] | Oil and Gas [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 459,611 | 516,909 | 489,055 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment direct expenses | [2] | 411,757 | 411,679 | 393,251 | ||||||||||||||
| Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses | 6,511 | 4,615 | 4,059 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 41,343 | 100,615 | 91,745 | |||||||||||||||
| Reportable Operating Segments [Member] | Technical Services [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 31,842 | 19,149 | 89,561 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment direct expenses | 29,112 | 14,851 | 88,221 | |||||||||||||||
| Total segment selling, general and administrative expenses | 805 | 157 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,925 | 4,141 | 1,339 | |||||||||||||||
| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other, net | [3] | 1,872 | (10,539) | 15,569 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (29,066) | (29,510) | (29,434) | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated selling, general and administrative costs | $ (28,651) | $ (28,597) | $ (26,207) | |||||||||||||||
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