Abstract: Focal plane in aerial plane, which has strict temperature requirement, is an important component in airborne electronic devices. The quality imaging of focal plane will fall off due to thermal noise and dark current generated during its working process. The characteristic of thermal design for focal plane in aerial camera was discussed and analyzed. Phase change system encapsulating phase change material was adopted to eliminate heat. According to the design feature and heat transfer path in focal plane, thermal design scheme of component was given. Thermal equilibrium equation and numerical analysis model of the heat transfer in focal plane were established by finite element analysis method. Based on the given temperature boundary condition, transient-state thermal analysis of component was carried out through IDEAS-TMG, which was a finite element thermal analysis software. The thermal response performance of focal plane was given. Thermal analysis results show that the operating temperature range of focal plane and radiator are 18-31.1 ℃ and 18-28.2 ℃ respectively. Simulation results obtained can meet the requirements of heat control. Thermal design scheme based on phase change is verified through thermal test, and there is a well consistency between the results derived from confirmatory test and numerical analysis. The maximum deviation between thermal analysis and thermal test are all not exceeding 5%. The correctness of numerical simulation and the validity of temperature prediction are verified. In thermal test, the operating temperature range of focal plane and radiator are 18-32.3 ℃ and 18-29.6 ℃ respectively.