Description of the Business - Additional Information (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
May 02, 2013
Aircraft
Apr. 30, 2012
Sep. 03, 2013
Aircraft
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Equity interest held (as a percent) 100.00%          
Common stock, par value $ 0.0001 $ 0.0001        
Proceeds from Issuance Initial Public Offering $ 0 $ 0 $ 31,454,000      
Common stock, outstanding shares 13,823,818 13,787,914        
Customer Relationships (EHI)            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes operated       63    
8.25% Second Priority Senior Secured Obligations Due 2020            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Debt instrument, face amount       400,000,000    
Interest rate (as a percent)       8.25%    
Debt instrument, maturity period       2020    
Net proceeds from offering       386,400,000    
Escrow account deposit 46,000,000     46,000,000    
Notes offering, aggregate principal amount 45,000,000     45,000,000    
Notes offering, anticipated interest 1,000,000     1,000,000    
Principal amount of notes subject to special mandatory redemption 45,000,000     45,000,000    
Percentage of redemption price subject to special mandatory redemption 100.00%     100.00%    
Outside of North America            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 21          
Number of aircranes operated 20          
Heavy Lift Helicopters            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 19          
S-64 E Model Aircranes            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 13          
S-64 F Model Aircranes            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 6          
Medium and Light Lift Aircraft            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 35          
Number of aircranes leased 31          
Rotor Wing Aircraft            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 28         6
Number of aircranes leased 26          
Fixed-Wing Aircraft            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes owned 7          
Number of aircranes leased 5          
Heavy Lift Aircrafts            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Number of aircranes leased 1          
European Air-Crane S.p.A. | SIMA            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Equity interest held (as a percent) 60.00%          
EACM | Layang-Layang Services Sdn. Bhd.            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Equity interest held (as a percent) 49.00%          
Common Stock            
Business Acquisition [Line Items]            
Common stock shares issued     4,800,000   4,800,000  
Sale Of Stock, Shares Issued To Existing Stockholders         1,050,000  
Common stock, par value         $ 8.00  
Proceeds From Issuance Initial Public Offering, Gross         38,400,000  
Proceeds from Issuance Initial Public Offering         31,500,000  
Stock Issuance Costs, Underwriting Discounts And Commissions         2,100,000  
Stock Issuance Costs, Other Offering Costs         $ 4,800,000  
Common stock, outstanding shares         4,802,970