Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 02, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Manufacturing Group [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Manufacturing Group [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Manufacturing Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Finance Group [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Finance Group [Member]	Jan. 02, 2010 Finance Group [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 242	$ 86	$ (31)	$ 464	$ 314	$ 175	$ (222)	$ (228)	$ (206)
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(6)	42		(6)	42
Income (loss) from continuing operations	242	92	(73)	464	320	133	(222)	(228)	(206)
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Dividends received from Finance group	0	0	0	179	505	349
Capital contributions paid to Finance group	0	0	0	(182)	(383)	(270)
Non-cash items
Depreciation and amortization	403	393	409	371	362	373	32	31	36
Provision for losses on finance receivables held for investment	12	143	267				12	143	267
Portfolio losses on finance receivables	102	112	162				102	112	162
Valuation allowance on finance receivables held for sale	202	8	(15)				202	8	(15)
Goodwill and other asset impairment charges	59	19	144	57	18	144		1
Deferred income taxes	81	69	(265)	197	131	(61)	(116)	(62)	(204)
Other, net	166	109	82	166	110	112		(1)	(30)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable, net	36	(1)	17	36	(1)	17
Inventories	(127)	(10)	803	(132)	(11)	810
Other assets	(413)	36	(250)	(419)	9	(255)	10	32	(5)
Accounts payable	211	54	(535)	211	54	(535)
Accrued and other liabilities	(90)	(455)	78	(135)	(384)	(85)	45	(71)	166
Captive finance receivables, net	236	424	177
Other operating activities, net	(52)		31	(52)		6			25
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations	1,068	993	1,032	761	730	738	65	(35)	196
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations	(5)	(9)	(17)	(5)	(9)	(17)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,063	984	1,015	756	721	721	65	(35)	196
Cash flows from investing activities
Finance receivables originated or purchased	(187)	(450)	(3,005)				(471)	(866)	(3,659)
Finance receivables repaid	824	1,635	4,011				1,289	2,348	4,804
Proceeds on receivables sales	421	528	594				476	655	644
Capital expenditures	(423)	(270)	(238)	(423)	(270)	(238)
Proceeds from collection on notes receivable from a prior disposition	58			58
Net cash used in acquisitions	(14)	(57)		(14)	(57)
Proceeds from sale of repossessed assets and properties	109	129	236				109	129	236
Retained interests			117						117
Other investing activities, net	55	34	13	(44)	(26)	(50)	50	39	11
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	843	1,549	1,728	(423)	(353)	(288)	1,453	2,305	2,153
Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations			211			211
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	843	1,549	1,939	(423)	(353)	(77)	1,453	2,305	2,153
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from long-term lines of credit			2,970			1,230			1,740
Payments on long-term lines of credit	(1,440)	(1,467)	(63)		(1,167)	(63)	(1,440)	(300)
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	926	231	918	496		595	430	231	323
Principal payments on long-term and nonrecourse debt	(785)	(2,241)	(4,163)	(29)	(130)	(392)	(756)	(2,111)	(3,771)
Intergroup financing	0	0	0	(175)	98	(280)	167	(111)	280
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes, net of fees paid			582			582
Purchase of convertible notes	(580)			(580)
Amendment of call option/warrant transactions and purchase of capped call	(30)			(30)
Purchase of convertible note call options			(140)			(140)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants			333			333
Decrease in short-term debt			(1,637)			(869)			(768)
Payment on borrowings against officers' life insurance policies			(412)			(412)
Capital contributions paid to Finance group under Support Agreement	0	0	0				182	383	270
Capital contributions paid to Cessna Export Finance Corp	0	0	0				60	30	40
Dividends paid	(22)	(22)	(21)	(22)	(22)	(21)	(179)	(505)	(349)
Other financing activities	(20)	6		(20)	6
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,951)	(3,493)	(1,633)	(360)	(1,215)	563	(1,536)	(2,383)	(2,235)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(1)	(1)	24		(3)	10	(1)	2	14
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(46)	(961)	1,345	(27)	(850)	1,217	(19)	(111)	128
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	931	1,892	547	898	1,748	531	33	144	16
Cash and equivalents at end of year	$ 885	$ 931	$ 1,892	$ 871	$ 898	$ 1,748	$ 14	$ 33	$ 144