v3.6.0.2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Provisions for Contractual Discounts and Uncompensated Care Applied to Air Medical Trade Receivables Expressed as Percentage of Total Segment Accounts Receivable (Detail) - Air Medical [Member] | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Provisions For Contractual Discounts And Estimated Uncompensated Care [Line Items] |  |  |
Allowance for contractual discounts | 67.00% | 65.00% | 72.00%
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] |  |  |
Provisions For Contractual Discounts And Estimated Uncompensated Care [Line Items] |  |  |
Allowance for contractual discounts | 56.00% | 56.00% |
Allowance for uncompensated care | 23.00% | 23.00% |

X
- Definition Provision for contractual discounts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_PercentageOfProvisionForContractualDiscounts
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of provision for uncompensated care. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_PercentageOfProvisionForUncompensatedCare
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Provisions For Contractual Discounts And Estimated Uncompensated Care [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_ProvisionsForContractualDiscountsAndEstimatedUncompensatedCareLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=phii_AirMedicalMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=us-gaap_TradeAccountsReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |