i had the same issue (on 8.2.2.1 at least, haven't tested the latest)
airwave + aruba activate provisioned IAP + instant GUI and radios were shut down.
if i provisioned IAP manually using Instant web and then added to AW, everything worked.
i found out that using activate -> aw provision does not actually alter Country code. And there was no way to alter it afterwards. You could configure a group prior and move AP there, but for some strange reason it didn't work.
if you use instant web prior, the very first thing it'll ask country code, so that's why it worked. it's sort of do it once things.
solution:
enable Groups-> corresponding Group-> Instant Config -> Airwave Settings -> "Allow Configuration of Country Code" to "YES" and then change your country code under Instant Config -> System -> General (or sync config).
a bummer.