Exhibit 5


                        [Shearman & Sterling Letterhead]



                                March 28, 2003



BE Aerospace, Inc.
1400 Corporate Center Way
Wellington, Florida 33414

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as counsel for BE Aerospace, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") of the Company filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to 1,300,000 shares (the "Shares") of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"), to be
issued from time to time pursuant to the Company's 2001 Stock Option Plan and
the Amended and Restated 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the
"Plans").

                  In so acting, we have examined the Registration Statement and
we have also examined and relied as to factual matters upon the representations
and warranties contained in originals, or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, records, certificates and
other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us
to render the opinion expressed below. In such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents, certificates
and instruments submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals
of all documents submitted to us as copies.

                  The opinion expressed below is limited to the General
Corporation Law of Delaware, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning
any other law.

                  Based upon the foregoing and having regard for such legal
considerations as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares
have been duly authorized by the Company and, when (a) issued and delivered by
the Company in accordance with the terms of the applicable Plans and (b) paid
for in full in accordance with terms of the applicable Plans, the Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 /s/ Shearman & Sterling
                                                 Shearman & Sterling