OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 197,267,000	$ 158,270,000	$ 555,972,000	$ 447,650,000
Depreciation and amortization	4,535,000	4,700,000	13,426,000	13,578,000
Operating income	35,706,000	28,993,000	100,991,000	79,494,000
Capital expenditures	1,865,000	2,143,000	5,710,000	6,743,000
Flight Support Group [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	140,748,000	104,323,000	395,193,000	301,145,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,669,000	2,493,000	7,683,000	7,467,000
Operating income	24,551,000	17,557,000	68,385,000	50,332,000
Capital expenditures	1,155,000	1,696,000	4,118,000	5,513,000
Electronic Technologies Group [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	57,166,000	54,107,000	162,477,000	147,231,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,771,000	2,111,000	5,458,000	5,817,000
Operating income	15,373,000	15,198,000	44,556,000	39,961,000
Capital expenditures	677,000	434,000	1,555,000	1,214,000
Other Primarily Corporate and Inter Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	(647,000)	(160,000)	(1,698,000)	(726,000)
Depreciation and amortization	95,000	96,000	285,000	294,000
Operating income	(4,218,000)	(3,762,000)	(11,950,000)	(10,799,000)
Capital expenditures	$ 33,000	$ 13,000	$ 37,000	$ 16,000