Net Revenues and Other Financial Information by Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 654.7		$ 636.0	$ 608.9	$ 600.2	$ 541.8		$ 495.0	$ 483.9	$ 463.5	$ 2,499.8		$ 1,984.2		$ 1,937.7
Operating earnings											428.0	[1]	316.0	[1]	296.1	[1]
Total assets	3,837.3	[2]				3,418.0	[2]				3,837.3	[2]	3,418.0	[2]	2,840.1	[2]
Goodwill	1,008.3					994.5					1,008.3		994.5		703.2
Capital expenditures											76.0		68.9		28.4
Depreciation and amortization											62.1		52.4		49.5
Commercial Aircraft
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues											1,302.0		997.5		911.3
Operating earnings											216.0	[1]	148.7	[1]	121.0	[1]
Total assets	1,366.1	[2]				1,131.9	[2]				1,366.1	[2]	1,131.9	[2]	762.9	[2]
Goodwill	384.2					388.5					384.2		388.5		162.1
Capital expenditures											49.0		54.0		16.9
Depreciation and amortization											35.6		28.4		26.0
Consumables Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues											943.5		772.9		798.1
Operating earnings											183.1	[1]	153.2	[1]	151.0	[1]
Total assets	2,156.8	[2]				2,014.8	[2]				2,156.8	[2]	2,014.8	[2]	1,808.9	[2]
Goodwill	535.4					517.3					535.4		517.3		452.4
Capital expenditures											21.2		11.4		9.4
Depreciation and amortization											20.4		17.9		17.0
Business Jet
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues											254.3		213.8		228.3
Operating earnings											28.9	[1]	14.1	[1]	24.1	[1]
Total assets	314.4	[2]				271.3	[2]				314.4	[2]	271.3	[2]	268.3	[2]
Goodwill	88.7					88.7					88.7		88.7		88.7
Capital expenditures											5.8		3.5		2.1
Depreciation and amortization											$ 6.1		$ 6.1		$ 6.5

[1] Operating earnings includes an allocation of corporate IT costs, employee benefits and general and administrative costs based on the proportion of each segments' systems users, number of employees and sales, respectively.

[2] Corporate assets (including cash and cash equivalents) of $304.6, $123.8 and $144.6 at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, have been allocated to the above segments based on each segment's respective percentage of total assets.