 In February 1912, he opened a seaplane flying school in Villefranche-sur-Mer before moving to Arcachon .In the First World War, Paulhan was mobilised as a pilot with the rank of lieutenant on 15 September 1914, serving initially in northern France near to Amiens.He was transferred to the Serbian front in 1915, where he was not only the most experienced but also the oldest aviator.