CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Class A Common Stock [Member]	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Deferred Compensation Obligation [Member]	HEICO Stock Held By Irrevocable Trust [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Oct. 31, 2010	$ 199	$ 55,048	$ 131	$ 227,993	$ 0	$ 0	$ (124)	$ 240,913	$ 85,714	$ 554,826
Comprehensive income:
Net income	0	5,625	0	0	0	0	0	33,904	5,120	39,024
Foreign currency translation	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,867	0	0	1,867
Total comprehensive income	0	5,625	0	0	0	0	1,867	33,904	5,120	40,891
Cash dividends	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,990)	0	(1,990)
Five-for-four common stock split	50	0	33	(83)	0	0	0	(102)	0	(102)
Tax benefit from stock option exercises	0	0	0	7,718	0	0	0	0	0	7,718
Stock option compensation expense	0	0	0	1,128	0	0	0	0	0	1,128
Proceeds from stock option exercises	1	0	3	1,802	0	0	0	0	0	1,806
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests	0	(7,241)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(4,450)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Redemptions of common stock related to stock option exercises	0	0	0	(5,432)	0	0	0	0	0	(5,432)
Noncontrolling interests assumed related to acquisition	0	5,612	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustments to redemption amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	(639)	0	0	0	0	0	639	0	639
Other	0	0	0	(2)	0	0	0	0	0	(2)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2011	250	53,955	167	233,124	0	0	1,743	273,364	90,834	599,482
Balance at Oct. 31, 2011	250	65,430	171	226,120	522	(522)	3,033	299,497	91,083	620,154
Comprehensive income:
Net income	0	4,586	0	0	0	0	0	38,228	5,876	44,104
Foreign currency translation	0	0	0	0	0	0	(4,236)	0	0	(4,236)
Total comprehensive income	0	4,586	0	0	0	0	(4,236)	38,228	5,876	39,868
Cash dividends	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(2,526)	0	(2,526)
Five-for-four common stock split	63	0	42	(105)	0	0	0	(16)	0	(16)
Tax benefit from stock option exercises	0	0	0	13,148	0	0	0	0	0	13,148
Stock option compensation expense	0	0	0	1,883	0	0	0	0	0	1,883
Proceeds from stock option exercises	0	0	0	275	0	0	0	0	0	275
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests	0	(7,616)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(5,050)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Redemptions of common stock related to stock option exercises	0	0	0	(127)	0	0	0	0	0	(127)
Adjustments to redemption amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	522	0	0	0	0	0	(522)	0	(522)
Other	0	1,224	0	(1)	0	0	(148)	(79)	0	(228)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2012	$ 313	$ 59,096	$ 213	$ 241,193	$ 522	$ (522)	$ (1,351)	$ 334,582	$ 96,959	$ 671,909