OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) £ in Millions, AUD in Millions			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended					17 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 29, 2015 AUD	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2015 AUD	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Affiliates Customer aircraft	Mar. 31, 2015 GBP (£) aircraft	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) aircraft	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) aircraft	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 01, 2015	Sep. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Impairment of inventories													$ 5,439,000		$ 7,167,000	$ 12,669,000
Dormant, obsolete and excess inventory																			$ 19,400,000			$ 19,100,000		$ 50,500,000
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets					$ (6,800,000)	$ (2,200,000)	$ (14,000,000)	$ (7,700,000)	$ (10,300,000)	$ (26,300,000)	$ 100,000	$ 600,000	(30,693,000)		(35,849,000)	(722,000)
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Impairment of inventories													5,439,000		7,167,000	12,669,000
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Impairment charges on assets held for sale													29,571,000		36,057,000
Construction in progress within property and equipment																			307,360,000			306,012,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					29,990,000			75,628,000	75,628,000			56,680,000	75,628,000		56,680,000	56,680,000			29,990,000			75,628,000		$ 56,680,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance								75,628,000				56,680,000	75,628,000		56,680,000
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													(4,161,000)
Goodwill, translation adjustments													102,000		(5,304,000)
Goodwill, acquired during period															24,252,000
Goodwill, impairment loss													(41,579,000)		0
Goodwill, ending balance					29,990,000				75,628,000				29,990,000		75,628,000	56,680,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, beginning balance								(576,000)				(576,000)	(576,000)		(576,000)
Goodwill, impairment loss													(41,579,000)		0
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, ending balance					(42,155,000)				(576,000)				(42,155,000)		(576,000)	(576,000)
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairments, intangible assets													8,086,000
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible Assets, gross beginning balance								28,306,000				26,628,000	28,306,000		26,628,000
Foreign currency translation													(448,000)		(2,085,000)
Intangible assets acquisition															3,763,000
Intangible Assets, gross ending balance					27,858,000				28,306,000				27,858,000		28,306,000	26,628,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- beginning balance								(10,091,000)				(8,329,000)	(10,091,000)		(8,329,000)
Impairments, intangible assets													(8,086,000)
Amortization expense													(2,202,000)		(1,762,000)
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- ending balance					(20,379,000)				(10,091,000)				$ (20,379,000)		(10,091,000)	(8,329,000)
Weighted average remaining contractual life, in years													6 years 2 months
2017																			999,000
2018																			936,000
2019																			806,000
2020																			503,000
2021																			503,000
Thereafter																			3,732,000
Total																			7,479,000
Other [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operated | aircraft													463
Deferred tax assets, net, noncurrent																			68,000,000			50,700,000
Deferred contract acquisition cost, non current																			55,100,000			42,400,000
Foreign currency transaction gain/loss													$ (4,300,000)		(6,500,000)	(3,700,000)
Impact of foreign exchange rates on unconsolidated affiliates													(22,400,000)		(25,700,000)	(3,900,000)
Extinguishment of debt													0		(2,591,000)	0
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates													0		4,185,000	112,210,000
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliates													0		3,921,000	103,924,000
Gain on sale of intellectual property																1,100,000
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests													1,498,000		0	0
Impairment of property and equipment													0
Deferred sale leaseback advance total																						55,934,000
Proceeds from assignment of aircraft purchase agreements													$ 0		$ 0	$ 106,113,000
Number of aircraft assigned future payments | aircraft																7
Deferred sale leaseback cumulative progress payments																		$ 147,400,000
Number of aircraft movement into (out of) deferred sale leaseback advance | aircraft													(2)	(5)	(5)
Completion of deferred sale leaseback													$ 75,800,000		$ 183,700,000
Removal of deferred sale leaseback advance													74,300,000		182,600,000
Unamortized debt issuance cost																			12,200,000			10,000,000
All debt excluding Revolving Credit Facility
Other [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost																			9,200,000			8,300,000
Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2022
Other [Line Items]
Extinguishment of debt													0		2,600,000
Direct cost
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													1,000,000
ATP Oil and Gas Corporation
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts																	$ 4,900,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, recoveries															4,400,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, write-offs															500,000
UK SAR
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Deferred set-up costs, current																			$ 12,100,000			8,900,000
Amortization of other deferred charges													10,000,000		2,600,000
Affiliated Customer
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts													0		0
Non-affiliated customer
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts													4,700,000
Aircraft
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets													(1,122,000)		208,000	$ 6,092,000
Damage from fire, explosion or other hazard
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets															4,900,000	(11,100,000)
Insurance recoveries															16,000,000	11,100,000
Airnorth
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 24,252,000																						$ 24,252,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, ending balance	24,252,000
Other [Line Items]
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests													1,498,000
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired																				15.00%			85.00%
Acquisition cost	$ 24,000,000	AUD 30.3	$ 5,300,000	AUD 7.3
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests													5,467,000
Redeemable non controlling interest, carrying amount, period increase (decrease)			(5,467,000)
Adjustments to additional paid in capital			$ 2,600,000
Lider
Other [Line Items]
Impairment of unconsolidated affiliate													0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													2,700,000
Deferred tax liabilities
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													3,100,000
Accrued maintenance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													(3,600,000)
Eastern Airways
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, impairment loss					(13,126,000)
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Goodwill, impairment loss					(13,126,000)
Bristow Academy and Norway
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, impairment loss													(22,274,000)
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Goodwill, impairment loss													$ (22,274,000)
Airnorth
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of fair value in excess of carrying amount																			12.80%
Maximum | Aircraft
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life													15 years
Property and equipment salvage value percentage																			50.00%
Maximum | Building
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life													30 years
Maximum | Other depreciable assets
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life													15 years
Minimum | Aircraft
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life													5 years
Property and equipment salvage value percentage																			30.00%
Minimum | Building
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life													15 years
Minimum | Other depreciable assets
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life													3 years
Unconsolidated affiliates
Other [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operated | Affiliates													120
Nigeria
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Number Of Uncollectible Customers | Customer													2
Australia
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Number Of Uncollectible Customers | Customer													1
Helideck Certification Agency (HCA)
Other [Line Items]
Equity investment ownership percentage																								50.00%
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates														£ 2.7	4,200,000
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliates															3,900,000
FB Entities
Other [Line Items]
Equity investment ownership percentage																	50.00%
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates														£ 74.0	112,200,000
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliates															103,900,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance- beginning of fiscal year								859,000				5,074,000	$ 859,000		5,074,000	5,079,000
Additional allowances													6,638,000		1,050,000	87,000
Write-offs													(1,935,000)		(5,265,000)	(92,000)
Balance- end of fiscal year					5,562,000				859,000				5,562,000		859,000	5,074,000	$ 5,079,000
Inventory valuation
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Impairment of inventories													5,439,000		7,167,000	12,669,000
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance- beginning of fiscal year								45,414,000				47,298,000	45,414,000		47,298,000	31,504,000
Impairment of inventories													5,439,000		7,167,000	12,669,000
Additional allowances													192,000		4,867,000	6,807,000
Write-offs													(22,428,000)		(10,125,000)	(6,096,000)
Foreign currency effects													(854,000)		(3,793,000)	2,414,000
Balance- end of fiscal year					27,763,000				45,414,000				27,763,000		45,414,000	47,298,000	$ 31,504,000
Europe Caspian
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					10,026,000			35,701,000	35,701,000			40,201,000	35,701,000		40,201,000	40,201,000			$ 10,026,000			35,701,000		$ 40,201,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance								35,701,000				40,201,000	35,701,000		40,201,000
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													(170,000)
Goodwill, translation adjustments													(328,000)		(4,500,000)
Goodwill, acquired during period															0
Goodwill, impairment loss													(25,177,000)		0
Goodwill, ending balance					10,026,000				35,701,000				10,026,000		35,701,000	40,201,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, beginning balance								0				0	0		0
Goodwill, impairment loss													(25,177,000)		0
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, ending balance					(25,177,000)				0				(25,177,000)		0	0
Europe Caspian | Norway
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill																					$ 12,100,000
Europe Caspian | Eastern Airways
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill																					24,600,000
Africa
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					0			5,946,000	5,946,000			6,177,000	5,946,000		6,177,000	6,177,000			0		5,900,000	5,946,000		6,177,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance								5,946,000				6,177,000	5,946,000		6,177,000
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													0
Goodwill, translation adjustments													233,000		(231,000)
Goodwill, acquired during period															0
Goodwill, impairment loss					(6,179,000)								(6,179,000)		0
Goodwill, ending balance					0				5,946,000				0		5,946,000	6,177,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, beginning balance								0				0	0		0
Goodwill, impairment loss					(6,179,000)								(6,179,000)		0
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, ending balance					(6,179,000)				0				(6,179,000)		0	0
Americas
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, impairment loss													0		0
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, beginning balance								(576,000)				(576,000)	(576,000)		(576,000)
Goodwill, impairment loss													0		0
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, ending balance					(576,000)				(576,000)				(576,000)		(576,000)	(576,000)
Asia Pacific
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					19,964,000			23,791,000	23,791,000			0	23,791,000		0	0			19,964,000		21,900,000	23,791,000		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance								23,791,000				0	23,791,000		0
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													(3,991,000)
Goodwill, translation adjustments													164,000		(461,000)
Goodwill, acquired during period															24,252,000
Goodwill, impairment loss													0
Goodwill, ending balance					19,964,000				23,791,000				19,964,000		23,791,000	0
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Goodwill, impairment loss													0
Corporate and other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					0			10,190,000	10,190,000			10,302,000	10,190,000		10,302,000	10,302,000			$ 0		$ 10,200,000	$ 10,190,000		$ 10,302,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance								10,190,000				10,302,000	10,190,000		10,302,000
Purchase price adjustments to previously acquired goodwill													0
Goodwill, translation adjustments													33,000		(112,000)
Goodwill, acquired during period															0
Goodwill, impairment loss													(10,223,000)		0
Goodwill, ending balance					0				10,190,000				0		10,190,000	10,302,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment [Rollforward]:
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, beginning balance								0				0	0		0
Goodwill, impairment loss													(10,223,000)		0
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss, ending balance					(10,223,000)				0				(10,223,000)		0	0
Assets held for sale
Property and equipment [Line Items]
Impairment charges on assets held for sale													29,571,000		36,057,000	6,814,000
Client contracts
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairments, intangible assets													0
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible Assets, gross beginning balance								8,165,000				7,129,000	8,165,000		7,129,000
Foreign currency translation													5,000		(76,000)
Intangible assets acquisition															1,112,000
Intangible Assets, gross ending balance					8,170,000				8,165,000				8,170,000		8,165,000	7,129,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- beginning balance								(7,399,000)				(6,932,000)	(7,399,000)		(6,932,000)
Impairments, intangible assets													0
Amortization expense													(663,000)		(467,000)
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- ending balance					(8,062,000)				(7,399,000)				$ (8,062,000)		(7,399,000)	(6,932,000)
Weighted average remaining contractual life, in years													5 months
Client relationships
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairments, intangible assets													$ 8,086,000
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible Assets, gross beginning balance								13,056,000				12,007,000	13,056,000		12,007,000
Foreign currency translation													(277,000)		(1,238,000)
Intangible assets acquisition															2,287,000
Intangible Assets, gross ending balance					12,779,000				13,056,000				12,779,000		13,056,000	12,007,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- beginning balance								(1,583,000)				(928,000)	(1,583,000)		(928,000)
Impairments, intangible assets													(8,086,000)
Amortization expense													(931,000)		(655,000)
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- ending balance					(10,600,000)				(1,583,000)				$ (10,600,000)		(1,583,000)	(928,000)
Weighted average remaining contractual life, in years													7 years
Trade names and trademarks
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairments, intangible assets													$ 0
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible Assets, gross beginning balance								5,148,000				5,326,000	5,148,000		5,326,000
Foreign currency translation													(140,000)		(542,000)
Intangible assets acquisition															364,000
Intangible Assets, gross ending balance					5,008,000				5,148,000				5,008,000		5,148,000	5,326,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- beginning balance								(323,000)				0	(323,000)		0
Impairments, intangible assets													0
Amortization expense													(313,000)		(323,000)
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- ending balance					(636,000)				(323,000)				$ (636,000)		(323,000)	0
Weighted average remaining contractual life, in years													14 years
Internally developed software
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairments, intangible assets													$ 0
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible Assets, gross beginning balance								1,179,000				1,339,000	1,179,000		1,339,000
Foreign currency translation													(30,000)		(160,000)
Intangible assets acquisition															0
Intangible Assets, gross ending balance					1,149,000				1,179,000				1,149,000		1,179,000	1,339,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- beginning balance								(244,000)				0	(244,000)		0
Impairments, intangible assets													0
Amortization expense													(236,000)		(244,000)
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- ending balance					(480,000)				(244,000)				$ (480,000)		(244,000)	0
Weighted average remaining contractual life, in years													2 years 10 months
Licenses
Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairments, intangible assets													$ 0
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible Assets, gross beginning balance								758,000				827,000	758,000		827,000
Foreign currency translation													(6,000)		(69,000)
Intangible assets acquisition															0
Intangible Assets, gross ending balance					752,000				758,000				752,000		758,000	827,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- beginning balance								$ (542,000)				$ (469,000)	(542,000)		(469,000)
Impairments, intangible assets													0
Amortization expense													(59,000)		(73,000)
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets- ending balance					$ (601,000)				$ (542,000)				$ (601,000)		$ (542,000)	$ (469,000)
Weighted average remaining contractual life, in years													2 years 7 months