Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses Allowance for Credit Losses (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2020

Credit Loss [Abstract]

Credit Loss, Financial Instrument [Text Block]

Allowance for Credit Losses

Beginning January 1, 2020, management assesses and records an allowance for credit losses on financial assets within the scope of ASU 2016-13 using the CECL model. Prior periods allowance for credit losses were based on a review of outstanding receivables that are charged off against the allowance after the potential for recovery is considered remote in accordance with legacy GAAP. The amount necessary to adjust the allowance for credit losses to management’s current estimate, as of the reporting date, on these assets is recorded in net income as credit loss expense. All credit losses reported in accordance with ASU 2016-13 were on trade receivables and/or contract assets arising from the Company’s contracts with customers.

In determining the appropriate methodology to use within the CECL model for receivables and contract assets arising from the Company’s contracts with customers, the Company considered the risk characteristics of the applicable assets. Spirit segregated the trade receivables and contract assets into “pools” of assets at the major customer level. The Company's assessment was based on similarity of risk characteristics shared by these pool of assets. Management observed that risks for collectability, with regard to the trade receivables and contract assets resulting from contracts with customers include: macro level economic conditions that impact all of Spirit’s customers, macro level market conditions that could impact Spirit’s customers in certain aircraft categories, certain customer specific market conditions, certain customer specific economic conditions, and certain customer specific administrative conditions.

The Company selected a loss-rate method for the CECL model, based on the relationship between historical write-offs of receivables and the underlying sales by major customer. Utilizing this model, a historical loss-rate is applied against the amortized cost of applicable assets, at the time the asset is established. The loss rate reflects the Company’s current estimate of the risk of loss (even when that risk is remote) over the expected remaining contractual life of the assets. The Company's policy is to deduct write-offs from the allowance for credit losses account in the period in which the financial assets are deemed uncollectible.

The changes to the allowance for credit losses and related credit loss expense reported for the current period were solely based on the results of the CECL model. During the nine months ended October 1, 2020, worsening economic conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced management’s current estimate of expected credit losses. In particular, trade accounts receivables from certain suppliers and third party Global Customer Support & Services ("GCS&S") customers are now included in the historical loss rate method CECL model at a higher loss-rate than originally estimated. This change did not have a material impact on reported results for the three or nine month periods ended October 1, 2020. Other than this change, there have been no significant changes in the factors that influenced management’s current estimate of expected credit losses, nor changes to the Company’s accounting policies or CECL methodology. The beginning balances, current period activity, and ending balances of the allocation for credit losses on accounts receivable and contract assets were not material.