Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring (Details) (Details)

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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring (Details) (Details) (USD $)
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Earn-out liability $ 1,133,000 [1]  
Total financial liabilities 29,290,000 8,178,000
Fair Value | EIM
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Earn-out liability 1,100,000 [1]  
Fair Value | Global Eagle Warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants 28,157,000 [2]  
Fair Value | Series C preferred warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   5,482,000
Fair Value | Common stock warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   2,696,000
Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Earn-out liability 0 [1]  
Total financial liabilities 28,157,000 0
Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Global Eagle Warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants 28,157,000 [2]  
Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Global Eagle Warrants | Public Warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants (in shares) 18,492,500  
Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Global Eagle Warrants | Sponsor Warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants (in shares) 333,333  
Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Series C preferred warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   0
Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Common stock warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Earn-out liability 0 [1]  
Total financial liabilities 0 0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Global Eagle Warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants 0 [2]  
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Series C preferred warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Common stock warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   0
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Earn-out liability 1,133,000 [1]  
Total financial liabilities 1,133,000 8,178,000
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Global Eagle Warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants 0 [2]  
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Series C preferred warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   5,482,000
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Common stock warrants
    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Warrants   $ 2,696,000
[1] Includes $1.1 million earn-out liability for EIM.
[2] Includes 18,492,500 public warrants and 333,333 sponsor warrants.