Inventories (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Total in-process inventory related to long-term contracts under the contract accounting method of accounting	$ 18.4
In-process	2,360.6	1,866.1
787 [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Aircraft order status delivered to airlines	3
Aircraft order status unfilled orders	857	848
Aircraft order status unfilled options	232	229
Company order status contract quantity	2,818	1,882
Company order status contract quantity delivered	29	9
Company order status firm unfilled orders	29	21
Company order status year completed	2030	2023
In process inventory production	257.9	249.6
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	755.6	579.2
In-process	1,013.5	828.8
A350XWB [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Aircraft order status unfilled orders	555	573
Aircraft order status unfilled options	185	183
Company order status contract quantity	1,884	1,884
Company order status year completed	2030	2030
In process inventory production	7.1	4.1
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	303.8	234.6
In-process	310.9	238.7
7Q7 [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Company order status contract quantity	19	19
Company order status contract quantity delivered	2	1
Company order status firm unfilled orders		1
Company order status year completed	2018	2018
In process inventory production	0.1	1.7
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	27.1	28.5
In-process	27.2	30.2
A380 [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
In process inventory production	27.1	16.8
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	21.8	28.9
In-process	48.9	45.7
CF34- 10 [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Aircraft order status delivered to airlines	954	794
Aircraft order status unfilled orders	394	418
Aircraft order status unfilled options	766	654
Company order status contract quantity	1,316	1,316
Company order status contract quantity delivered	1,052	842
Company order status firm unfilled orders	190	52
Company order status year completed	2013	2013
In process inventory production	10.3	7.4
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	11.8	24.7
In-process	22.1	32.1
Trent 900 [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Aircraft order status delivered to airlines	144	88
Aircraft order status unfilled orders	272	224
Aircraft order status unfilled options	88	60
Company order status contract quantity	945	945
Company order status contract quantity delivered	227	154
Company order status firm unfilled orders	161	217
Company order status year completed	2025	2025
In process inventory production	32.7	25.7
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	17.3	18.6
In-process	50.0	44.3
PW 1000G - MRJ [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Aircraft order status unfilled orders	130	30
Aircraft order status unfilled options	120	20
Company order status contract quantity	678	678
Company order status year completed	2029	2029
In process inventory production	0
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	113.9	53.9
In-process	113.9	53.9
PW 1000G - C Series [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Aircraft order status unfilled orders	266	180
Aircraft order status unfilled options	238	180
Company order status contract quantity	2,476	2,476
Company order status year completed	2028	2028
In process inventory production	0.3	0.1
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	197.2	104.7
In-process	197.5	104.8
Production [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Total in-process inventory related to long-term contracts under the contract accounting method of accounting	423.5	393.5
Other in process inventory	348.3	301.6
Other in process inventory total	375.4	318.4
In-process	798.9	711.9
Pre-production and excess-over-average [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
Total in-process inventory related to long-term contracts under the contract accounting method of accounting	1,507.0	1,097.0
Other in process inventory	32.9	28.3
Other in process inventory total	54.7	57.2
In-process	1,561.7	1,154.2
In Process Inventory Total [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
In-process	2,360.6	1,866.1
Other [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
In process inventory production	115.1	104.9
In process inventory pre production and excess over average	80.3	52.8
In-process	195.4	157.7
Total under long-term contracts under contract accounting [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
In-process	1,930.5	1,490.5
Other in process inventory [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
In-process	381.2	329.9
Other in process [Member]
In-process inventories summarized by platforms
In-process	$ 430.1	$ 375.6