Here is an untested patch to fix this, it makes hw-detect load the airport module earlier, to match the load order of the installed system. Matt, can you test this? -- see shy jo
Index: hw-detect.sh
===================================================================
--- hw-detect.sh	(revision 23175)
+++ hw-detect.sh	(working copy)
@@ -196,13 +196,13 @@
 
 # Return list of lines formatted "module:Description"
 get_detected_hw_info() {
+	if [ "`udpkg --print-architecture`" = powerpc ]; then
+		discover-mac-io
+	fi
 	discover_hw
 	if [ -d /proc/bus/usb ]; then
 		echo "usb-storage:USB storage"
 	fi
-	if [ "`udpkg --print-architecture`" = powerpc ]; then
-		discover-mac-io
-	fi
 }
 
 # NewWorld PowerMacs don't want floppy or ide-floppy, and on some models
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