Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 23, 2012	Nov. 25, 2011	Nov. 23, 2012	Nov. 25, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 15,148	$ 17,259	$ 47,720	$ 49,384
Cost of goods sold	8,657	11,606	28,684	31,314
Gross profit	6,491	5,653	19,036	18,070
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing	1,508	1,386	4,125	4,013
General and administrative	2,038	2,060	5,943	5,935
Research and development	258	171	905	552
Total Operating expenses	3,804	3,617	10,973	10,500
Operating income	2,687	2,036	8,063	7,570
Other expenses:
Interest expense, net	319	195	764	552
Other expense, net	91	26	27	110
Total Other expenses	410	221	791	662
Income before income taxes	2,277	1,815	7,272	6,908
Provision for income taxes	1,074	996	3,082	2,940
Net income	1,203	819	4,190	3,968
Gain attributable to non-controlling interest	(25)	(10)	(19)	(28)
Net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation	1,178	809	4,171	3,940
Foreign currency translation adjustment and unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	(24)	(129)	31	(209)
Comprehensive income	1,154	680	4,202	3,731
Preferred Stock dividend	(286)	(552)	(1,390)	(1,656)
Income attributable to common and participating shareholders	$ 892	$ 257	$ 2,781	$ 2,284
Distributed earnings per share:
Common (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Preferred (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.14	$ 0.15
Undistributed earnings per share:
Common (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.01	$ 0.14	$ 0.11
Preferred (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.01	$ 0.14	$ 0.11
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.01	$ 0.14	$ 0.11
Basic weighted average common and participating shares:
Common weighted average number of shares (in shares)	9,152	9,118	9,143	9,111
Participating preferred shares (in shares)	7,999	11,095	10,063	11,095
Total basic weighted average common and participating shares (in shares)	17,151	20,213	19,206	20,206
Diluted weighted average shares:
Basic weighted average common and participating shares (in shares)	17,151	20,213	19,206	20,206
Dilutive effect of stock warrants and options (in shares)	166	287	157	302
Total diluted weighted average shares (in shares)	17,317	20,500	19,363	20,508