Note 7: Restructuring and Other Costs (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended9 Months Ended12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Restructuring Reserve [Line Items]     
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Current Year Actions$ 40,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Current Year Actions81,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Current Year Actions(41,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Current Year Actions80,000,00040,000,000 80,000,000 
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Prior Year Actions110,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Prior Year Actions9,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Prior Year Actions(40,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Prior Year Actions79,000,000110,000,000 79,000,000 
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   188,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   238,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(81,000,000)(58,000,000)(11,000,000)(150,000,000) 
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions88,000,000  88,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   457,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(9,000,000)(16,000,000)(15,000,000)(40,000,000)(371,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions46,000,000  46,000,000 
Restructuring Reserve, Two Years Prior Actions56,000,000  56,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs, Current Year Actions [Member]
     
Restructuring Details [Line Items]     
Anticipated Net Workforce Reduction Of Hourly And Salary Employees   approximately 2,800 hourly and salaried employees 
Anticipated Net Square Feet Of Facilities To Be Exited   approximately 540,000 net square feet 
Completed Net Workforce Reduction Of Hourly And Salary Employees   approximately 1,300 employees 
Completed Net Square Feet Of Facilities Exited   10,000 net square feet 
Restructuring And Other Costs, Prior Year Actions [Member]
     
Restructuring Details [Line Items]     
Anticipated Net Workforce Reduction Of Hourly And Salary Employees   5,000 employees 
Anticipated Net Square Feet Of Facilities To Be Exited   3.9 million net square feet 
Completed Net Workforce Reduction Of Hourly And Salary Employees   approximately 4,000 employees 
Completed Net Square Feet Of Facilities Exited   approximately 800,000 net square feet 
Employee Severance [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   176,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(71,000,000)(54,000,000)(11,000,000)  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions40,000,000  40,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   326,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions1,000,000(5,000,000)(5,000,000) (301,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions16,000,000  16,000,000 
Employee Severance [Member]
     
Restructuring Reserve [Line Items]     
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Current Year Actions39,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Current Year Actions71,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Current Year Actions(34,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Current Year Actions76,000,000  76,000,000 
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Prior Year Actions98,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Prior Year Actions(1,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Prior Year Actions(30,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Prior Year Actions67,000,000  67,000,000 
Asset Write Downs [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   3,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions0(3,000,000)0  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions0  0 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   25,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(2,000,000)0(4,000,000) (19,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions0  0 
Asset Write Downs [Member]
     
Restructuring Reserve [Line Items]     
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Current Year Actions0    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Current Year Actions0    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Current Year Actions0    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Current Year Actions0  0 
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Prior Year Actions0    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Prior Year Actions2    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Prior Year Actions(2)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Prior Year Actions0  0 
Facility Exit [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   59,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(10,000,000)(1,000,000)0  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions48,000,000  48,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   106,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(8,000,000)(11,000,000)(6,000,000) (51,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions30,000,000  30,000,000 
Facility Exit [Member]
     
Restructuring Reserve [Line Items]     
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Current Year Actions1,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Current Year Actions10,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Current Year Actions(7,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Current Year Actions4,000,000  4,000,000 
Restructuring Reserve Beginning Balance, Prior Year Actions12,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Period Expense, Prior Year Actions8,000,000    
Restructuring Reserve Settled, Prior Year Actions(8,000,000)    
Restructuring Reserve Ending Balance, Prior Year Actions12,000,000  12,000,000 
Cost Of Sales [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   121,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions   (88,000,000) 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions   (27,000,000) 
Selling General and Administrative [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   65,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions   (60,000,000) 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions   (13,000,000) 
Other Income Net [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   2,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions   (2,000,000) 
Otis [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   47,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   88,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(41,000,000)(4,000,000)(3,000,000)  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions40,000,000  40,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   88,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions00(1,000,000) (87,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions0  0 
Carrier [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   37,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   27,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(8,000,000)(9,000,000)(3,000,000)  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions7,000,000  7,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   107,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(1,000,000)(6,000,000)(11,000,000) (74,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions15,000,000  15,000,000 
UTC Fire and Security [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   29,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   27,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(12,000,000)(7,000,000)(2,000,000)  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions6  6 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   92,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(6,000,000)(5,000,000)(2,000,000) (64,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions15,000,000  15,000,000 
Pratt and Whitney [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   48,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   48,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(3,000,000)(33,000,000)0  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions12,000,000  12,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   93,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(1,000,000)(4,000,000)(1,000,000) (84,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions3,000,000  3,000,000 
Hamilton Sundstrand [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   10,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   8,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(4,000,000)(2,000,000)(2,000,000)  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions0  0 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   41,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions(1,000,000)(1,000,000)0 (29,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions10,000,000  10,000,000 
Sikorsky [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   16,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   39,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions(13,000,000)(2,000,000)(1,000,000)  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions23,000,000  23,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   18,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions000 (15,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions3,000,000  3,000,000 
Eliminations and other [Member]
     
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]     
Restructuring Charges   1,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Current Year Actions   1,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Current Year Actions0(1,000,000)0  
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Current Year Actions0  0 
Restructuring And Other Costs Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions   18,000,000 
Restructuring And Other Costs Incurred Cost, Prior Year Actions000 (18,000,000)
Restructuring And Other Costs Remaining Expected Cost, Prior Year Actions$ 0  $ 0