SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

ConsolidationPolicy

A. Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

UseOfEstimates

B. Use of Estimates

The financial statements of the Corporation have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), which requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the accompanying financial statements. The most significant of these estimates includes the estimate of costs to complete long-term contracts under the percentage-of-completion accounting methods, the estimate of useful lives for property, plant, and equipment, cash flow estimates used for testing the recoverability of assets, pension plan and postretirement obligation assumptions, estimates for inventory obsolescence, estimates for the valuation and useful lives of intangible assets and legal reserves. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

RevenueRecognitionPolicyTextBlock

C. Revenue Recognition

The realization of revenue refers to the timing of its recognition in the accounts of the Corporation and is generally considered realized or realizable and earned when the earnings process is substantially complete and all of the following criteria are met: 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; 2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; 3) the Corporation’s price to its customer is fixed or determinable; and 4) collectability is reasonably assured.

We determine the appropriate method by which we recognize revenue by analyzing the terms and conditions of each contract or arrangement entered into with our customers. Revenue is recognized on product sales as production units are shipped and title and risk of loss have transferred. Revenue is recognized on service type contracts as services are rendered. The significant estimates we make in recognizing revenue are primarily for long-term contracts generally accounted for using the cost-to-cost method of percentage of completion accounting that are associated with the design, development and manufacture of highly engineered industrial products used in commercial and defense applications. Under the cost-to-cost percentage-of-completion method of accounting, profits are recorded pro rata, based upon current estimates of direct and indirect costs to complete such contracts. Changes in estimates of contract sales, costs, and profits are recognized using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes in the current period the cumulative effect of the changes on current and prior periods. The effect of the changes on future periods of contract performance is recognized as if the revised estimate had been the original estimate. A significant change in an estimate on one or more contracts could have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In 2014 and 2013, there were no individual significant changes in estimated contract costs at completion. In 2012, the Corporation incurred unanticipated additional costs of $23.7 million on its long-term contract with Westinghouse for disassembly, inspection, and preparation for shipment costs related to the reactor coolant pumps (RCPs) that the Corporation is supplying for the AP1000 nuclear power plants in China. In addition, in 2012 the Corporation recorded a cumulative catch up benefit of $14.2 million related to a change in estimate on its technology transfer contract on the AP1000 nuclear program.

Losses on contracts are provided for in the period in which the losses become determinable and the excess of billings over cost and estimated earnings on long-term contracts is included in deferred revenue.

CashAndCashEquivalentsPolicyTextBlock

D. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of money market funds and commercial paper that are readily convertible into cash, all with original maturity dates of three months or less.

InventoryPolicyTextBlock

E. Inventory

Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market. Production costs are comprised of direct material and labor and applicable manufacturing overhead.

GovernmentContractorsContractsInProgressPolicyPolicyTextBlock

F. Progress Payments

Certain long-term contracts provide for interim billings as costs are incurred on the respective contracts. Pursuant to contract provisions, agencies of the U.S. Government and other customers are granted title or a secured interest for materials and work-in-process included in inventory to the extent progress payments are received. Accordingly, these receipts have been reported as a reduction of unbilled receivables and inventories, as presented in Notes 4 and 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

PropertyPlantAndEquipmentPolicyTextBlock

G. Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major renewals and betterments are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the life of the asset are expensed in the period they are incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the respective assets.

Average useful lives for property, plant, and equipment are as follows:

Buildings and improvements	5 to 40 years
Machinery, equipment, and other	3 to 15 years

GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsPolicy

H. Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are generally the result of acquisitions and consist primarily of purchased technology, customer related intangibles, trademarks, and technology licenses. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from 1 to 20 years. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on other intangible assets.

ImpairmentOrDisposalOfLongLivedAssetsPolicyTextBlock

I. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Corporation reviews the recoverability of all long-lived assets, including the related useful lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset might not be recoverable. If required, the Corporation compares the estimated fair value determined by either the undiscounted future net cash flows or appraised value to the related asset’s carrying value to determine whether there has been an impairment. If an asset is considered impaired, the asset is written down to fair value in the period in which the impairment becomes known. The Corporation recognized no significant impairment charges on assets held in use during the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. For impairment charges on assets held for sale, refer to Note 2, Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale. In 2012, the Corporation recognized an impairment of $5.0 million in General and administrative expenses, in connection with its 2012 restructuring plan, a component of which was exiting a facility.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

J. Goodwill

Goodwill results from business acquisitions. The Corporation accounts for business acquisitions by allocating the purchase price to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their fair values, and the excess of the purchase price over the amounts allocated is recorded as goodwill. The recoverability of goodwill is subject to an annual impairment test or whenever an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not result in an impairment. The impairment test is based on the estimated fair value of the underlying businesses. The Corporation’s goodwill impairment test is performed as of October 31 of each year. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on goodwill.

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K. Pre-Contract Costs

The Corporation, from time to time, incurs costs to begin fulfilling the statement of work under a specific anticipated contract that has yet to be obtained from a customer. If it is determined that the recoveries of these costs are probable, the costs will be capitalized, excluding any start-up costs which are expensed as incurred. When circumstances change and the contract is no longer deemed probable, the capitalized costs will be recognized in earnings. Capitalized pre-contract costs were $2.7 million and $1.8 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsPolicy

L. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Accounting guidance requires certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. Due to the short maturities of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, the net book value of these financial instruments is deemed to approximate fair value. See Notes 9 and 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information

ResearchAndDevelopmentExpensePolicy

M. Research and Development

The Corporation funds research and development programs for commercial products and independent research and development and bid and proposal work related to government contracts. Development costs include engineering and field support for new customer requirements. Corporation-sponsored research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Research and development costs associated with customer-sponsored programs are capitalized to inventory and are recorded in cost of sales when products are delivered or services performed. Funds received under shared development contracts are a reduction of the total development expenditures under the shared contract and are shown net as research and development costs.

ShareBasedCompensationOptionAndIncentivePlansPolicy

N. Accounting for Share-Based Payments

The Corporation follows the fair value based method of accounting for share-based employee compensation, which requires the Corporation to expense all share-based employee compensation. Share-based employee compensation is a non-cash expense since the Corporation settles these obligations by issuing the shares of Curtiss-Wright Corporation instead of settling such obligations with cash payments.

Compensation expense for all non-qualified share options, performance shares, performance-based restricted shares, time-based restricted stock, and performance-based restricted stock units is recognized on a graded schedule over the requisite service period for the entire award based on the grant date fair value.

IncomeTaxPolicyTextBlock

O. Income Taxes

The Corporation accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax laws is recognized in the results of operations in the period the new laws are enacted. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.

The Corporation records amounts related to uncertain income tax positions by 1) prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and 2) the measurement of the income tax benefits recognized from such positions. The Corporation’s accounting policy is to classify uncertain income tax positions that are not expected to be resolved in one year as a non-current income tax liability and to classify interest and penalties as a component of Interest expense and General and administrative expenses, respectively. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

ForeignCurrencyTransactionsAndTranslationsPolicyTextBlock

P. Foreign Currency

For operations outside the United States of America that prepare financial statements in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Corporation translates assets and liabilities at period-end exchange rates and income statement amounts using weighted-average exchange rates for the period. The cumulative effect of translation adjustments is presented as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity. This balance is affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and by the acquisition of foreign entities. Gains and (losses) from foreign currency transactions are included in General and administrative expenses within the results of operations, which amounted to $2.9 million, $2.6 million, and ($2.3) million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

DerivativesPolicyTextBlock

Q. Derivatives

Forward Foreign Exchange and Currency Option Contracts

The Corporation uses financial instruments, such as forward exchange and currency option contracts, to hedge a portion of existing and anticipated foreign currency denominated transactions. The purpose of the Corporation’s foreign currency risk management program is to reduce volatility in earnings caused by exchange rate fluctuations. All of the derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value based upon quoted market prices for comparable instruments, with the gain or loss on these transactions recorded into earnings in the period in which they occur. These gains and (losses) are classified as General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and amounted to ($6.9) million, ($6.2) million, and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Corporation does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Risks and Related Strategies

The Corporation’s primary interest rate exposure results from changes in U.S. dollar interest rates. The Corporation’s policy is to manage interest cost using a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. The Corporation periodically uses interest rate swaps to manage such exposures. Under these interest rate swaps, the Corporation exchanges, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount.

For interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges (i.e., hedges against the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability or an identified portion thereof that is attributable to a particular risk), changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps offset changes in the fair value of the fixed rate debt due to changes in market interest rates.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

R. Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Standards Issued Not Yet Adopted

Standard	Description	Effect on the financial statements
ASU 2014-09 Revenue from contracts with customers Date of adoption: January 1, 2017	In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard which will supersede previous existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard creates a five-step model for revenue recognition that requires companies to exercise judgment when considering contract terms and relevant facts and circumstances. The five-step model includes (1) identifying the contract, (2) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation has been satisfied. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption.	The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
ASU 2014-08 Reporting Discontinued Operations Date of adoption: December 15, 2014	In April 2014, new guidance was issued that amends the current discontinued operations guidance. The new guidance limits discontinued operation reporting to situations where the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results, and requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations. The adoption of this new guidance will be effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted in certain instances.	The Corporation plans to adopt the provisions of the new guidance during the first quarter of 2015. The significance of this guidance is dependent on any future divestitures or disposals.