Segment Information (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 24, 2012	Aug. 26, 2011	Aug. 24, 2012	Aug. 26, 2011	Feb. 24, 2012
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of business segments			2
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 16,502	$ 15,851	$ 32,572	$ 32,125
Interest expense, net	231	207	445	357
Depreciation and amortization	461	418	914	770
Operating income	2,461	2,659	5,376	5,534
Provision for income taxes	994	952	2,008	1,944
Identifiable assets	64,549	64,182	64,549	64,182	67,786
Expenditures for segment assets	288	699	791	1,090
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	2,461	2,659	5,376	5,534
Interest expense, net	(231)	(207)	(445)	(357)
Other expense, net	61	24	64	(84)
Provision for income taxes	(994)	(952)	(2,008)	(1,944)
Expense (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	1	(2)	6	(18)
Net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation	1,298	1,522	2,993	3,131
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Sales (in hundredths)	62.20%	68.10%	62.40%	68.50%
Sales	10,259	10,796	20,312	22,016
Export sales	4,772	4,611	8,973	8,978
Korean Government [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Export sales	2,632	1,846	4,564	3,904
Domestic commercial customer [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Number of contracts to major customer	1	1	1	1
International customer [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Number of contracts to major customer	1	1	1	1
U S Government [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Number of contracts to major customer	3	3	3	3
Aerospace Solutions (Aerospace) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	11,140	12,469	21,617	24,561
Interest expense, net	156	163	295	274
Depreciation and amortization	282	322	580	585
Operating income	1,688	2,479	4,012	4,952
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Identifiable assets	38,912	34,511	38,912	34,511
Expenditures for segment assets	239	519	649	818
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	1,688	2,479	4,012	4,952
Interest expense, net	(156)	(163)	(295)	(274)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Commercial/Industrial Systems (CIS) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	5,362	3,382	10,955	7,564
Interest expense, net	75	44	150	83
Depreciation and amortization	164	84	306	173
Operating income	1,452	810	2,667	2,048
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Identifiable assets	7,967	9,696	7,967	9,696
Expenditures for segment assets	24	89	50	181
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	1,452	810	2,667	2,048
Interest expense, net	(75)	(44)	(150)	(83)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	15	12	28	12
Operating income	(679)	(630)	(1,303)	(1,466)
Provision for income taxes	994	952	2,008	1,944
Identifiable assets	17,670	19,975	17,670	19,975
Expenditures for segment assets	25	91	92	91
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	(679)	(630)	(1,303)	(1,466)
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	$ (994)	$ (952)	$ (2,008)	$ (1,944)