Consolidating Financial Information - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Line Items]                      
Net revenues: $ 73,202 $ 118,338 $ 80,885 $ 74,184 $ 92,465 $ 120,226 $ 68,590 $ 36,940 $ 346,609 $ 318,221 $ 180,824
Cost of revenues                 263,445 222,108 119,405
Gross profit 13,177 47,978 13,729 8,280 23,164 46,185 17,490 9,274 83,164 96,113 61,419
Operating expenses:                      
General and administrative                 26,494 37,366 17,232
Research and development                 3,782 4,000 4,683
Selling and marketing                 9,286 7,755 6,071
Impairment of goodwill                 21,272 0 0
Total operating expenses                 60,834 49,121 27,986
Operating income                 22,330 46,992 33,433
Other income (expense):                      
Interest expense, net                 (35,800) (25,175) (6,990)
Other income (expense), net                 (1,193) (5,831) (594)
Total other income (expense)                 (36,993) (31,006) (7,584)
Net income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest                 (14,663) 15,986 25,849
Income tax expense                 (4,432) 6,120 10,213
Net income (loss) (2,485) 16,941 (17,162) (7,525) (1,830) 14,488 (1,797) (995) (10,231) 9,866 15,636
Less: Net loss related to noncontrolling interest                 (61) (209) (406)
Net income (loss) attributable to Erickson Incorporated                 (10,292) 9,657 15,230
Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock                 0 0 2,795
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders (2,451) 16,862 (17,109) (7,594) (1,700) 14,525 (1,952) (1,216) (10,292) 9,657 12,435
Parent Company                      
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Line Items]                      
Net revenues:                 151,502 161,500 153,213
Cost of revenues                 94,545 98,347 94,158
Gross profit                 56,957 63,153 59,055
Operating expenses:                      
General and administrative                 22,166 27,472 14,201
Research and development                 3,782 4,000 4,683
Selling and marketing                 8,432 6,803 5,953
Impairment of goodwill                 0    
Total operating expenses                 34,380 38,275 24,837
Operating income                 22,577 24,878 34,218
Other income (expense):                      
Interest expense, net                 (35,210) (25,103) (6,874)
Other income (expense), net                 (3,600) (5,515) (359)
Total other income (expense)                 (38,810) (30,618) (7,233)
Net income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest                 (16,233) (5,740) 26,985
Income tax expense                 (6,433) 5,311 9,733
Net income (loss)                 (9,800) (11,051) 17,252
Less: Net loss related to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Erickson Incorporated                 (9,800) (11,051) 17,252
Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock                     2,795
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders                     14,457
Guarantor Subsidiaries                      
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Line Items]                      
Net revenues:                 163,094 128,109 0
Cost of revenues                 145,054 100,429 0
Gross profit                 18,040 27,680 0
Operating expenses:                      
General and administrative                 912 5,111 0
Research and development                 0 0 0
Selling and marketing                 593 780 0
Impairment of goodwill                 21,272    
Total operating expenses                 22,777 5,891 0
Operating income                 (4,737) 21,789 0
Other income (expense):                      
Interest expense, net                 20 1 0
Other income (expense), net                 2,286 16 0
Total other income (expense)                 2,306 17 0
Net income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest                 (2,431) 21,806 0
Income tax expense                 0 (5) 0
Net income (loss)                 (2,431) 21,811 0
Less: Net loss related to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Erickson Incorporated                 (2,431) 21,811 0
Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock                     0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders                     0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries                      
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Line Items]                      
Net revenues:                 55,663 52,852 57,797
Cost of revenues                 47,328 47,543 55,473
Gross profit                 8,335 5,309 2,324
Operating expenses:                      
General and administrative                 3,416 4,844 3,085
Research and development                 0 0 0
Selling and marketing                 429 123 104
Impairment of goodwill                 0    
Total operating expenses                 3,845 4,967 3,189
Operating income                 4,490 342 (865)
Other income (expense):                      
Interest expense, net                 (610) (73) (48)
Other income (expense), net                 229 33 36
Total other income (expense)                 (381) (40) (12)
Net income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest                 4,109 302 (877)
Income tax expense                 2,001 814 480
Net income (loss)                 2,108 (512) (1,357)
Less: Net loss related to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Erickson Incorporated                 2,108 (512) (1,357)
Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock                     0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders                     (1,357)
Consolidating Entries and Eliminations                      
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Line Items]                      
Net revenues:                 (23,650) (24,240) (30,186)
Cost of revenues                 (23,482) (24,211) (30,226)
Gross profit                 (168) (29) 40
Operating expenses:                      
General and administrative                 0 (61) (54)
Research and development                 0 0 0
Selling and marketing                 (168) 49 14
Impairment of goodwill                 0    
Total operating expenses                 (168) (12) (40)
Operating income                 0 (17) 80
Other income (expense):                      
Interest expense, net                 0 0 (68)
Other income (expense), net                 (108) (365) (271)
Total other income (expense)                 (108) (365) (339)
Net income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest                 (108) (382) (259)
Income tax expense                 0 0 0
Net income (loss)                 (108) (382) (259)
Less: Net loss related to noncontrolling interest                 (61) (209) (406)
Net income (loss) attributable to Erickson Incorporated                 (169) (591) (665)
Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock                     0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders                     $ (665)