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DEBT (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
DEBT (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 764,360,000		$ 764,360,000		$ 707,461,000
Less short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt	(13,273,000)		(13,273,000)		(8,979,000)
Long-term debt, less current maturities	751,087,000		751,087,000		698,482,000
Repayment of debt			32,518,000	7,630,000
Proceeds from borrowings			88,493,000	10,012,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.90%		6.90%
Long Term Convertible Debt Current And Noncurrent [Abstract]
Amortization of debt discount			1,666,000	1,565,000
Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	350,378,000		350,378,000		350,410,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.50%		7.50%		7.50%
Unamortized premium	400,000		400,000		400,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	200,000,000		200,000,000		200,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	87,800,000		87,800,000		30,000,000
Repayment of debt			30,000,000
Proceeds from borrowings			87,800,000
Convertible Senior Notes Due 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	100,885,000		100,885,000		99,219,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.00%		3.00%		3.00%
The Balances Of The Debt And Equity Components [Abstract]
Equity component- net carrying value	14,905,000		14,905,000		14,905,000
Debt component- face amount at maturity	115,000,000		115,000,000		115,000,000
Debt component- unamortized discount	(14,115,000)		(14,115,000)		(15,781,000)
Debt component- net carrying value	100,885,000		100,885,000		99,219,000
Long Term Convertible Debt Current And Noncurrent [Abstract]
Debt discount amortization period			four year
Contractual coupon interest	863,000	863,000	1,726,000	1,726,000
Amortization of debt discount	844,000	789,000	1,666,000	1,565,000
Total interest expense	1,707,000	1,652,000	3,392,000	3,291,000
Bristow Norway Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	10,207,000		10,207,000		11,454,000
RLR Note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	14,283,000		14,283,000		14,900,000
Other debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 807,000		$ 807,000		$ 1,478,000