Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 03, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount						$ 47,200,000
Revolving Credit Facility Committment Amount Reduction					45,000,000
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations			9,700,000
Repayments of Debt	3,200,000
Long-Term Debt	813,322,000		813,322,000				995,450,000
Net borrowings (repayments) on inventory financing arrangements			(13,368,000)	10,196,000
Debt extinguishment losses, net	0	(51,000)	(160,000)	(99,000)
SEACOR Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding						240,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity						164,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount						1,000,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit			(50,000,000)
Proceeds from Lines of Credit			115,000,000
ERA Group Inc. Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding						190,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity						44,900,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount						300,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit			(100,000,000)
Proceeds from Lines of Credit			38,000,000
Other Wokring Capital Lines [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Lines of Credit			(700,000)
Proceeds from Lines of Credit			100,000
Five Point Eight Seven Five Percentage Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twelve Member
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	171,000,000		171,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.875%		5.875%
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount			5,500,000
Aggregate Purchase Price Of Senior Notes			5,700,000
Debt extinguishment losses, net			$ 200,000
7.375% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						7.375%