OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 208,919,000	$ 197,267,000	$ 184,486,000	$ 174,219,000	$ 169,370,000	$ 158,270,000	$ 153,845,000	$ 135,535,000	$ 764,891,000	$ 617,020,000	$ 538,296,000
Depreciation and amortization									18,543,000	17,597,000	14,967,000
Operating income									138,431,000	109,173,000	88,255,000
Capital expenditures									9,446,000	8,877,000	10,253,000
Total assets	941,069,000				781,643,000				941,069,000	781,643,000	732,910,000
Flight Support Group [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales									539,563,000	412,337,000	395,423,000
Depreciation and amortization									10,661,000	9,899,000	9,801,000
Operating income									95,001,000	67,896,000	60,003,000
Capital expenditures									6,866,000	7,343,000	8,518,000
Total assets	458,624,000				410,666,000				458,624,000	410,666,000	414,030,000
Electronic Technologies Group [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item For Operating Profit (Loss) and Capital Expenditure From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales									227,771,000	205,648,000	143,372,000
Depreciation and amortization									7,502,000	7,308,000	4,728,000
Operating income									59,465,000	56,126,000	39,981,000
Capital expenditures									2,543,000	1,502,000	1,670,000
Total assets	429,869,000				328,577,000				429,869,000	328,577,000	285,602,000
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									(2,443,000)	(965,000)	(499,000)
Depreciation and amortization									380,000	390,000	438,000
Operating income									(16,035,000)	(14,849,000)	(11,729,000)
Capital expenditures									37,000	32,000	65,000
Total assets	$ 52,576,000				$ 42,400,000				$ 52,576,000	$ 42,400,000	$ 33,278,000