Segment Information (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 23, 2012	Nov. 25, 2011	Nov. 23, 2012	Nov. 25, 2011	Feb. 24, 2012
Segment Information (unaudited) [Abstract]
Number of business segments			2
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 15,148	$ 17,259	$ 47,720	$ 49,384
Interest expense, net	319	195	764	552
Depreciation and amortization	461	486	1,375	1,256
Operating income	2,687	2,036	8,063	7,570
Provision for income taxes	1,074	996	3,082	2,940
Identifiable assets	66,923	67,345	66,923	67,345	67,786
Expenditures for segment assets	147	430	938	1,520
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	2,687	2,036	8,063	7,570
Interest expense, net	(319)	(195)	(764)	(552)
Other expense, net	(91)	(26)	(27)	(110)
Provision for income taxes	(1,074)	(996)	(3,082)	(2,940)
Expense (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	(25)	(10)	(19)	(28)
Net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation	1,178	809	4,171	3,940
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Sales (in hundredths)	47.20%	61.00%	57.50%	65.10%
Sales	7,146	10,528	27,441	32,145
Export sales	5,453	6,417	14,426	15,394
Korean Government [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Export sales	1,346	3,668	5,910	7,572
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	10,569	12,860	32,186	37,421
Interest expense, net	220	145	515	419
Depreciation and amortization	341	339	921	924
Operating income	2,887	1,848	6,899	6,800
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Identifiable assets	43,044	38,507	43,044	38,507
Expenditures for segment assets	139	324	788	1,142
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	2,887	1,848	6,899	6,800
Interest expense, net	(220)	(145)	(515)	(419)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Commercial/Industrial Systems (CIS) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	4,579	4,399	15,534	11,963
Interest expense, net	99	50	249	133
Depreciation and amortization	109	110	415	283
Operating income	718	884	3,385	2,932
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Identifiable assets	7,762	10,725	7,762	10,725
Expenditures for segment assets	5	61	55	242
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	718	884	3,385	2,932
Interest expense, net	(99)	(50)	(249)	(133)
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	11	37	39	49
Operating income	(918)	(696)	(2,221)	(2,162)
Provision for income taxes	1,074	996	3,082	2,940
Identifiable assets	16,117	18,113	16,117	18,113
Expenditures for segment assets	3	45	95	136
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to Environmental Tectonics Corporation [Abstract]
Operating income	(918)	(696)	(2,221)	(2,162)
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	$ (1,074)	$ (996)	$ (3,082)	$ (2,940)