Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,379	$ 6,440	$ 2,225	$ 2,056
Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation	961,459	981,505	998,001
Equipment held for sale	23,607	20,648
Operating lease related receivable, net of allowances	12,916	8,434
Notes receivable, net of allowances		542
Investments	21,831	15,239
Deferred income taxes	37,844	27,615
Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation	5,989	6,901
Equipment purchase deposits	1,369	1,369
Other assets, net	21,574	15,875
Total assets	1,078,715	1,133,205
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	15,374	16,833
Liabilities under derivative instruments	1,690	12,341
Deferred income taxes	90,248	84,706
Notes payable	696,988	718,134
Maintenance reserves	63,313	54,509
Security deposits	6,956	6,278
Unearned lease revenue	4,593	3,743
Total liabilities	879,162	896,544
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 3,475,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)		31,915
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 8,715,580 and 9,109,663 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	87	91
Paid-in capital in excess of par	47,785	56,842
Retained earnings	152,911	156,704
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefit	(1,230)	(8,891)
Total shareholders' equity	199,553	236,661	226,970	220,793
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,078,715	1,133,205
Parent company
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	4,142	6,429	2,202	2,012
Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation	266,302	320,240
Equipment held for sale	18,271	14,164
Operating lease related receivable, net of allowances	3,688	3,395
Notes receivable, net of allowances		5
Investments	21,831	15,239
Investment in subsidiaries	198,443	148,104
Due from subsidiaries, net		2,298
Deferred income taxes	3,164
Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation	5,989	6,901
Equipment purchase deposits	1,369	1,369
Other assets, net	9,257	9,722
Total assets	532,456	527,866
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	11,313	11,375
Due to subsidiaries, net	2,648
Liabilities under derivative instruments	1,690	2,789
Deferred income taxes		9,555
Notes payable	301,671	252,006
Maintenance reserves	11,787	11,820
Security deposits	1,994	2,676
Unearned lease revenue	1,800	984
Total liabilities	332,903	291,205
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 3,475,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)		31,915
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 8,715,580 and 9,109,663 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	87	91
Paid-in capital in excess of par	47,785	56,842
Retained earnings	152,911	156,704
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefit	(1,230)	(8,891)
Total shareholders' equity	199,553	236,661
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 532,456	$ 527,866