| Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($)$ in Thousands
 | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 
| Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | 
| Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating revenues | $ 73,943 | $ 69,741 | $ 70,738 | $ 67,415 | $ 74,689 | $ 90,510 | $ 86,580 | $ 79,443 | $ 281,837 | $ 331,222 | $ 298,959 | 
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 171,481 | 204,373 | 186,612 | 
| Administrative and general |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,812 | 43,987 | 38,924 | 
| Depreciation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 47,337 | 46,312 | 45,561 | 
| Total costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 261,630 | 294,672 | 271,097 | 
| Gains on asset dispositions, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,953 | 6,101 | 18,301 | 
| Goodwill impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,866) | 0 | 0 | 
| Operating income | 4,783 | 5,123 | 8,535 | 5,853 | 7,445 | 11,583 | 13,550 | 10,073 | 24,294 | 42,651 | 46,163 | 
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,191 | 540 | 591 | 
| Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (13,526) | (14,778) | (18,050) | 
| SEACOR management fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (168) | 
| Derivative losses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18) | (944) | (104) | 
| Note receivable impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (2,457) | 0 | 
| Foreign currency gains, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,590) | (2,377) | 698 | 
| Gains on debt extinguishment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,617) | 0 | 0 | 
| Gain on sale of FBO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,946 | 0 | 0 | 
| Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 45 | (4) | 19 | 
| Total other income (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (335) | (20,020) | (17,014) | 
| Income before income tax expense and equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,959 | 22,631 | 29,149 | 
| Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,117 | 8,285 | 11,727 | 
| Income before equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,842 | 14,346 | 17,422 | 
| Equity losses, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,943) | 2,675 | 882 | 
| Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Net income | (3,620) | 653 | 11,105 | (239) | 3,140 | 4,311 | 5,196 | 4,374 | 7,899 | 17,021 | 18,304 | 
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 806 | 96 | 401 | 
| Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (806) | (96) | (401) | 
| Net income attributable to Era Group Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,705 | 17,117 | 18,705 | 
| Accretion of redemption value on Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 721 | 
| Net income attributable to common shares | $ (3,447) | $ 861 | $ 11,333 | $ (42) | $ 3,185 | $ 4,266 | $ 5,221 | $ 4,445 | 8,705 | 17,117 | 17,984 | 
| Parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Administrative and general |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,484 | 7,132 | 4,329 | 
| Depreciation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Total costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,484 | 7,132 | 4,329 | 
| Gains on asset dispositions, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Goodwill impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,484) | (7,132) | (4,329) | 
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 75 | 80 | 
| Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (12,479) | (13,957) | (16,972) | 
| SEACOR management fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (168) | 
| Derivative losses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (785) | 0 | 
| Note receivable impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,457) |  | 
| Foreign currency gains, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 569 | 2,163 | 0 | 
| Gains on debt extinguishment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,617) |  |  | 
| Gain on sale of FBO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,946 |  |  | 
| Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3) | 10 | 13 | 
| Total other income (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,666 | (14,951) | (17,047) | 
| Income before income tax expense and equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,818) | (22,083) | (21,376) | 
| Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,368) | (8,081) | (8,589) | 
| Income before equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (450) | (14,002) | (12,787) | 
| Equity losses, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,155 | 31,119 | 31,492 | 
| Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,705 | 17,117 | 18,705 | 
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Net income attributable to Era Group Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,705 | 17,117 | 18,705 | 
| Accretion of redemption value on Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 721 | 
| Net income attributable to common shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,984 | 
| Guarantors |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 262,898 | 330,393 | 298,269 | 
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 149,702 | 204,271 | 186,041 | 
| Administrative and general |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,326 | 37,139 | 34,856 | 
| Depreciation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 46,722 | 45,772 | 45,005 | 
| Total costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 229,750 | 287,182 | 265,902 | 
| Gains on asset dispositions, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,582 | 6,101 | 18,301 | 
| Goodwill impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (352) |  |  | 
| Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 41,378 | 49,312 | 50,668 | 
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 900 | 460 | 508 | 
| Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (773) | (821) | (1,078) | 
| SEACOR management fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 
| Derivative losses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18) | (159) | (104) | 
| Note receivable impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 
| Foreign currency gains, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,119) | (4,540) | 698 | 
| Gains on debt extinguishment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Gain on sale of FBO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 63 | (14) | 6 | 
| Total other income (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,947) | (5,074) | 30 | 
| Income before income tax expense and equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38,431 | 44,238 | 50,698 | 
| Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,625 | 16,192 | 20,386 | 
| Income before equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20,806 | 28,046 | 30,312 | 
| Equity losses, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,943) | 2,675 | 882 | 
| Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18,863 | 30,721 | 31,194 | 
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 376 | 96 | 401 | 
| Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 376 | 96 | 401 | 
| Net income attributable to Era Group Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19,239 | 30,817 | 31,595 | 
| Accretion of redemption value on Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 
| Net income attributable to common shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31,595 | 
| Non-guarantors |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18,952 | 1,227 | 1,109 | 
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21,792 | 213 | 726 | 
| Administrative and general |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,002 | 3 | 3 | 
| Depreciation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 615 | 540 | 556 | 
| Total costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25,409 | 756 | 1,285 | 
| Gains on asset dispositions, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,629) | 0 | 0 | 
| Goodwill impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,514) |  |  | 
| Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10,600) | 471 | (176) | 
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 275 | 5 | 3 | 
| Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (274) | 0 | 0 | 
| SEACOR management fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 
| Derivative losses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Note receivable impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 
| Foreign currency gains, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (40) | 0 | 0 | 
| Gains on debt extinguishment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Gain on sale of FBO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (15) | 0 | 0 | 
| Total other income (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (54) | 5 | 3 | 
| Income before income tax expense and equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10,654) | 476 | (173) | 
| Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (140) | 174 | (70) | 
| Income before equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10,514) | 302 | (103) | 
| Equity losses, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10,514) | 302 | (103) | 
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 430 | 0 | 0 | 
| Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 430 | 0 | 0 | 
| Net income attributable to Era Group Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10,084) | 302 | (103) | 
| Accretion of redemption value on Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 
| Net income attributable to common shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (103) | 
| Eliminations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (13) | (398) | (419) | 
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Operating |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (13) | (111) | (155) | 
| Administrative and general |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (287) | (264) | 
| Depreciation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Total costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (13) | (398) | (419) | 
| Gains on asset dispositions, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Goodwill impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| SEACOR management fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 
| Derivative losses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Note receivable impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 
| Foreign currency gains, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Gains on debt extinguishment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Gain on sale of FBO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 
| Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Total other income (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Income before income tax expense and equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Income before equity earnings (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Equity losses, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (9,155) | (31,119) | (31,492) | 
| Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (9,155) | (31,119) | (31,492) | 
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Net income attributable to Era Group Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (9,155) | $ (31,119) | (31,492) | 
| Accretion of redemption value on Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 
| Net income attributable to common shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (31,492) |