I think you are spot on there with point 2. Any experience "on the tools" is a good thing, just using hand tools and taking things apart, I don't think there's much of this in schools now. Doesn't have to be aircraft either - volunteering at a local transport museum, restoring something like a BSA Bantam, its all useful stuff. Don't forget books, have a look in charity shops or Ebay for things like "Engineering Workshop Practice" or "Workshop Technology". Some of these old books explain the basics very well. Its already been said, interviews are very competitive, taking along a few photos of things she's done could swing it!