A former air traffic controller has condemned the idea of putting an Adelaide city helipad close to the commercial airlines' major flight path into Adelaide Airport.

Walter Dollman said there were many concerns, including turbulence, noise, the need to keep the public clear of the parklands site during landings and take-offs and worries about the main flight path during peak periods.

"Not least of the reasons, this is another commercial development on the Adelaide parklands," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

A major Adelaide Airport flight path passes just north of CBD buildings, and the helipad would be below it. ( ABC News: Tom Fedorowytsch )

A helipad would be close to Adelaide Casino, potentially giving high rollers another travel option, and it might be used for tourism flights to South Australia's wine regions and Kangaroo Island.

The former air traffic controller said even low use of a CBD helipad came with no guarantee about how demand might grow over time.

"Once you establish a helipad there, who knows what the future might hold?" he said.

He said in busy periods for Adelaide Airport in the western suburbs, it could be almost impossible to use a city helipad safely because of operations in the main flight path.

"You couldn't imagine a worse position from an air traffic control management point of view," he said.

An aviation company first approached Adelaide City Council with the idea about four years ago and Councillor Houssam Abiad said it was ultimately a decision that would be based on the advice of aviation experts, along with the views of residents and businesses.

"We are potentially looking at expressions of interest from experts," Cr Abiad said.

"It's not for council to make a decision if this is safe or not.

"I welcome the views of Mr Dollman to be added to those [other] views."

Mr Dollman said a new helipad on the roof of the soon-to-open Royal Adelaide Hospital did not present the same concerns as it was visible to the main airport's air traffic control, unlike the proposed site near the River Torrens, which he described as being in a valley.