v3.6.0.2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Provisions for Contractual Discounts and Estimated Uncompensated Care Applied to Air Medical Revenues Expressed as Percentage of Total Independent Provider Model Billings (Detail) - Air Medical [Member] | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Provisions For Contractual Discounts And Estimated Uncompensated Care [Line Items] |  |  |
Provision for contractual discounts | 67.00% | 65.00% | 72.00%
Provision for uncompensated care | 6.00% | 8.00% | 2.00%

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 estimated uncompensated care. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_PercentageOfProvisionForEstimatedUncompensatedCare
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: |