Business Segment Information
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Business Segment Information
Business Segment Information

Sales and earnings from continuing operations of the Company's operating segments are summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
March 31
 
March 31
(in millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial Systems
$
594

 
$
611

 
$
1,143

 
$
1,173

Government Systems
565

 
538

 
1,040

 
989

Information Management Services
183

 
162

 
352

 
318

Total sales
$
1,342

 
$
1,311

 
$
2,535

 
$
2,480

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment operating earnings:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Commercial Systems
$
132

 
$
135

 
$
257

 
$
260

Government Systems
114

 
108

 
210

 
194

Information Management Services
36

 
29

 
66

 
53

Total segment operating earnings
282

 
272

 
533

 
507

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense(1)
(25
)
 
(17
)
 
(45
)
 
(32
)
Stock-based compensation
(7
)
 
(9
)
 
(13
)
 
(15
)
General corporate, net
(12
)
 
(11
)
 
(23
)
 
(23
)
Transaction costs for B/E Aerospace acquisition(1)
(5
)
 
—

 
(16
)
 
—

Restructuring and asset impairment charges
—

 
—

 
—

 
(45
)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
233

 
235

 
436

 
392

Income tax expense
(65
)
 
(63
)
 
(123
)
 
(87
)
Income from continuing operations
$
168

 
$
172

 
$
313

 
$
305


(1) During the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company incurred $8 million and $11 million, respectively, of bridge facility fees related to the B/E Aerospace acquisition. These costs are included in Interest expense. Therefore total transaction costs related to the acquisition of B/E Aerospace during the three and six months ended March 31, 2017 were $13 million and $27 million, respectively. At March 31, 2017, $2 million of transaction costs were unpaid and included in Accounts payable on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based upon, among other considerations, segment operating earnings. The Company's definition of segment operating earnings excludes income taxes, stock-based compensation, unallocated general corporate expenses, interest expense, gains and losses from the disposition of businesses, restructuring and asset impairment charges and other special items as identified by management from time to time. Intersegment sales are not material and have been eliminated.

The following table summarizes sales by category for the three and six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
March 31
 
March 31
(in millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Commercial Systems sales categories:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Air transport aviation electronics
$
364

 
$
355

 
$
693

 
$
682

Business and regional aviation electronics
230

 
256

 
450

 
491

Commercial Systems sales
594

 
611

 
1,143

 
1,173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government Systems sales categories:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Avionics
367

 
357

 
686

 
650

Communication and navigation
198

 
181

 
354

 
339

Government Systems sales
565

 
538

 
1,040

 
989

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information Management Services sales
183

 
162

 
352

 
318

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total sales
$
1,342

 
$
1,311

 
$
2,535

 
$
2,480



The air transport and business and regional aviation electronics sales categories are delineated based on the difference in underlying customer base, size of aircraft and markets served. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2017 sales for air transport aviation electronics include revenue from wide-body in-flight entertainment products and services of $4 million and $10 million, respectively, compared to $10 million and $21 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2016.