-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M7H5LzYSLETWSLc+r0XJszR/MLPOfo2hIfzUlSsvtHDHc5lNtrMC7QAMmRhWtuL7
 IEPbyccDMXb9FBmUlvP4BA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-031145.txt : 20101217
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-031145.hdr.sgml : 20101217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101217163211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-031145
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Exton Wayne
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001368518

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18348
		FILM NUMBER:		101260258

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BE AEROSPACE, INC.
		STREET 2:		1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY
		CITY:			WELLINGTON
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33414

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BE AEROSPACE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861361
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PUBLIC BUILDING AND RELATED FURNITURE [2531]
		IRS NUMBER:				061209796
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY
		STREET 2:		1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY
		CITY:			WELLINGTON
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33414
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5617915000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY
		STREET 2:		1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY
		CITY:			WELLINGTON
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33414

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BE AVIONICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920608
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861361</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BE AEROSPACE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEAV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368518</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Exton Wayne</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BE AEROSPACE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1400 CORPORATE CENTER WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WELLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33414</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Vice President &amp; GM</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2976</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>71443</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12893</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>84336</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4702</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79634</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Diane J. Ryan, Attorney-in-Fact for Wayne Exton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----