  We present new detailed NLTE calculations for model atmospheres of novae
during outburst. This fully self-consistent NLTE treatment for a number of
model atoms includes 3922 NLTE levels and 47061 NLTE primary transitions. We
discuss the implication of departures from LTE for the strengths of the lines
in nova spectra. The new results show that our large set of NLTE lines
constitute the majority of the total line blanketing opacity in nova
atmospheres. Although we include LTE background lines, their effect are small
on the model structures and on the synthetic spectra. We demonstrate that the
assumption of LTE leads to incorrect synthetic spectra and that NLTE
calculations are required for reliably modeling nova spectra. In addition, we
show that detailed NLTE treatment for a number of ionization stages of iron
changes the results of previous calculations and improve the fit to observed
nova spectra.
