v3.6.0.2

Variable Interest Entity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (loss) in equity of unconsolidated affiliate | $ 200,000 | $ (300,000) |
Trade receivables | 2,000,000 |  |
Other assets | 200,000 | 0 |
Operating revenue | $ 2,600,000 | 0 | $ 3,400,000
PHIC's date of incorporation | May 26, 2011 |  |
Loan receivables | $ 1.2 |  |
PHI Century Limited [Member] |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |
Investment in the common stock | 49.00% |  |
Allowance for Trade Receivables [Member] |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |
Allowance for bad debts against trade receivables |  | $ 1,500,000 |

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- Definition Allowance for bad debts against VIE trade receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_AllowanceForBadDebtsAgainstVIETradeReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Equity In Earnings (Loss) Of Unconsolidated Affiliates + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_EquityInEarningsLossOfUnconsolidatedAffiliates
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Investment in variable interest entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_InvestmentInVariableInterestEntity
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Trade receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | phii_TradeReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | phii_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Includes loans held for sale. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LoansReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The amount of income between the reporting entity and the Variable Interest Entity (VIE). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph d -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5747-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityActivityBetweenVIEAndEntityRevenues
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=SL6759159-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Date the relationship between reporting entity and the Variable Interest Entity (VIE) began, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph b -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5747-111685 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=SL6759159-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityQualitativeOrQuantitativeInformationDateInvolvementBegan1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=phii_PhiCenturyLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis=us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |